Rita John, professor of Theoretical Physics, took over as the Registrar of the University of Madras on Monday.

The syndicate of the University of Madras approved the appointment of Ms. John, as the Registrar of the institution on Friday. In a meeting that lasted around 30 minutes, the syndicate met to discuss a single agenda and approve the appointment, a syndicate member said.

She took over from S. Elumalai, the present Registrar. Mr. Elumalai is a professor of biotechnology from Presidency College. The tenure of a Registrar is three years.

Ms. John will be the second woman to hold the post in the 168-year-old institution. Annie Mary Fernandes was the first woman Registrar. She held the position between 2005 and 2007.

A sitting syndicate member of the University, Ms. John is professor and head, Department of Theoretical Physics, Guindy campus. She introduced the three-year blended BSc. programme in physics, jointly with the University of Melbourne in the academic year 2022-23. She was also involved in the revision of the physics curriculum for the State’s School Education department.

She was selected from among 15 applicants, four of them from the University. Four candidates were eliminated during scrutiny and 11 were interviewed, a University official said.

Sources said all interviewees were asked two questions — one was regarding handling the objections raised by the Local Fund Office and the other was, the University’s precarious financial position.

The panel of interviewers, included Innocent Divya, Director of Technical Education who is also a member of the convenor committee currently administering the University in the absence of a Vice-Chancellor; G. Tiruvasagam, former V-C of the University; the sitting V-C of Alagappa University G. Ravi, a legal studies department official and the Governor’s nominee, a professor from the National Institute of Ocean Technology.