Edappadi Demands Probe Into Assistant Professor Exam Results Amid Alleged Irregularities

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has formally requested that the state administration initiate an independent and thorough investigation into the recently released results of the assistant professor recruitment examination. The examination results, which were made public by the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) on June 25, 2026, have been marred by allegations of widespread irregularities and inconsistent evaluation methods.

This high-stakes recruitment drive was organized to fill 2,708 vacancies for assistant professors across government arts and science colleges. It is notable that this selection process took place last December after a significant hiatus of approximately 25 years. A total of 42,064 candidates participated in the examination, which consisted of two distinct components: an objective type section worth 150 marks and a descriptive essay paper valued at 50 marks.

Allegations of Irregularities in Assistant Professor Exam Results

The controversy surrounding the assistant professor recruitment examination gained momentum when Edappadi K Palaniswami highlighted several concerning discrepancies in a recent statement. He pointed out that reports suggest 42 candidates who achieved exceptional scores in the objective portion of the exam were awarded a '0' in the descriptive essay paper. Furthermore, 106 candidates reportedly received only '1' mark for the same descriptive section. One specific example cited involved a candidate from the Tamil department who attained 111 out of 150 in the objective test but was granted a zero in the essay component.

In a direct challenge to the fairness of the results, the former Chief Minister emphasized that it is highly improbable for candidates scoring over 100 marks in the objective test to receive zero in the descriptive paper, or vice versa. He characterized this pattern as evidence of a fundamentally flawed, biased, and inconsistent evaluation process. He argued that these anomalies have drastically altered the final merit rankings, causing significant concern among the aspirants who took the test.

Beyond the immediate exam controversy, the opposition leader claimed that persistent mismanagement in the higher education sector over previous years has resulted in over 50 per cent of assistant professor posts and numerous principal positions remaining vacant. According to his data, this neglect has contributed to a decline in higher education enrollment, which fell from a peak of 51.4 per cent during the AIADMK tenure in 2019-20 to 47 per cent in recent times. Demanding accountability, Edappadi K Palaniswami has urged the government to cancel the current results immediately and launch a comprehensive independent inquiry, stressing that strict legal action should be taken against any individuals found responsible for malpractice.