Palermo

A court decision annulling more than 25 statutes at the University of Palermo has been strongly criticised as a major potential setback to single university autonomy.

The Sicilian regional administrative tribunal backed a claim by Palermo medical and law professors and placed new limits on the number of academic responsibilities that can be held by any single person.

Antonino Gullotti, whose Palermo rectorship was revoked by the ruling, said it threatened national chaos through the paralysis of local statutes. He appealed to higher education minister Ortensio Zecchino.