The Collegiate Education Department has released a panel of 129 associate professors for promotion as principals in Grade II government arts and science colleges. A government order dated July 21, 2026, fixes the vacancy estimate at 129. The panel is for the year 2026-27 and is subject to ongoing court cases.
After about two years of functioning with temporary principals, Grade II government arts and science colleges are set to get full-time principals. The list of eligible associate professors would be included in the regular panel for promotion to the post of principal Grade II. The government order has given a time frame of two months for claims and objections to be received on the panel.
Meanwhile, at least 24 Grade I colleges continue to languish without full-time principals. Two posts of Joint Director of Collegiate Education, equivalent to Grade I principal, were vacant as well. These will have to be filled through promotion of Grade II principals.
The government had drawn up a panel of 14 Grade II principals for promotion to the post of Grade I principal or Joint Director in June. According to a government order dated June 29, 2026, the officials were empanelled for the year 2025-26. This panel was sent by the Directorate of Collegiate Education to the government twice in January and in March.
S. Suresh, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers’ Association, said at least four of the empanelled principals have since retired and another is due for retirement at the end of this month. He lamented the delay that deprived some teachers of a chance to retire as principals.