State okays 17 of 30 LIT posts, unhappy VC to push for 13 more

Nagpur: Even as the government, late on Thursday night, sanctioned the recruitment on 17 vacant teaching posts of the city’s prestigious Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT), Nagpur University vice chancellor SP Kane has expressed displeasure over the state’s move of allowing just over 50% of the total vacancies.
The recruitment freeze imposed for the last several years has been partially lifted following a public interest litigation filed by a former LIT student Prassana Sohde. On August 29, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court had directed the NU and government to start recruitment at LIT. Following this, the NU had written to the state seeking permission to appoint 30 teachers. LIT has a sanctioned intake of 62.

Speaking to TOI, Kane said, “ I am not happy. We had sought approval for 30 posts. We will certainly push for 13 more in addition to the 17 recruitments permitted. I don’t understand what was wrong in permitting another 13 posts.” However, the VC was not sure if the NU’s push would change the government’s stand.

Kane said although the 17 posts are enough for helping the institute acquire a good National Board of Accreditation (NBA) rating, that is not the sole purpose of having teachers. “What about improving the quality of education and efficiency of the entire institute? The petition in high court was moved with the right intention of maintaining higher educational quality and increased research activity. That purpose is defeated now,” he said.

Asked about the other teaching departments and colleges, Kane said there was no word from the government on vacancies there. He admitted that another PIL has been filed regarding NU’s Ambedkar College of Law.

TOI posed several queries regarding the government’s decision to fill only 17 posts as well as the ban of recruitment at other places to education minister Vinod Tawde and director of higher education Dhanraj Mane. Both didn’t reply to the SMSes.

Top NU officials slammed the government and questioned its intentions in the delayed permission for recruitment. The GR dated November 16 categorically notes the litigation filed by Sohde and therefore approval for the appointments is being given.

The officials said this clearly indicates that the government was not serious towards education and it only wants to encourage people in knocking the doors of judiciary.