Guwahati, July 11 -- The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has been functioning without a regular vice-chancellor (VC) for over a year, leading to disruptions in its academic schedule and governance, according to institute officials and students.

The delay follows the Union government's decision in June 2023 to amend regulations governing deemed-to-be universities.

The new rules transferred the authority to appoint key functionaries - including vice-chancellors - from the institutions' sponsoring bodies to the Ministry of Education. TISS is one of five deemed universities affected by this change.

A senior official from the institute said that while the ministry initiated the appointment process in December 2023 and conducted int...