After about two years of functioning with temporary principals, Grade II government arts and science colleges are set to get full-time principals. The Collegiate Education Department has drawn up a panel of 129 eligible associate professors to be appointed as principals in Grade II colleges in the State.

A Government Order (G.O.) dated July 21, 2026, stated that the estimate of vacancy for the post of principal Grade II in government arts and science colleges and colleges of education under the Tamil Nadu Collegiate Educational Service has been fixed at 129.

The list of eligible associate professors would be included in the regular panel for promotion to the post of principal Grade II for the year 2026-27. However, this was subject to the outcome of ongoing court cases, the G.O. read. It has given a time frame of two months for claims and objections to be received on the panel.

Grade I vacancies

Meanwhile, at least 24 Grade I colleges continue to languish without full-time principals, while two posts of Joint Director of Collegiate Education (equivalent to Grade I principal) were vacant as well, which 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/Joint Director of Collegiate Education in June.

According to a G.O. 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,” said S. Suresh, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers’ Association.

At least four of the empanelled principals have since retired and another is due for retirement at the end of this month. “I am not sure what took them so long to make these appointments. Due to this delay, these teachers were deprived of a chance to retire as principals,” Mr. Suresh lamented.