Indore: Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) on Thursday suspended on-going recruitment of contractual assistant professors after Central Cabinet approved an ordinance to restore the 200-point roster taking college or university as a unit for reservation in teaching posts.
“After the decision, we talked to officials of Department of Higher Education over phone and thereafter suspended interviews for appointment of contractual assistant professors for DAVV teaching departments,” vice-chancellor Dr Narendra Dhakad.
He said they have also written a letter to the state government seeking guidance as they had already conducted the interview for many subjects.
The interviews of appointment of assistant professors on contract basis against vacant regular posts were undertaken on February 27.
The appointments were to be done for 35 subjects. The university had already conducted interviews for around 20 subjects till Thursday. Around 15 more subjects appointments were to be done till March 29. But the process has been suspended now.
The UGC had announced last March that an individual department should be considered as the base unit to calculate the number of teaching posts to be reserved for the SC and ST candidates, following an order by the Allahabad High Court in April 2017.
The Supreme Court had last month dismissed a review petition filed by the HRD Ministry after its special leave petition against the court order was rejected by the apex court.
The Central Cabinet on Thursday set aside 13-point roster system and passed Ordinance to restore the 200-point college/university-wise reservation roster.
What about interviews held so far?
Dhakad said they had sought guidance from the government on the interviews held so far. “If the government says that we have to follow the new reservation policy then we will not open the envelopes. But if it approved the appointments so far we will put envelopes before executive council of DAVV for its nod to the appointments,” he said.
Inquiry on leaks already underway
Previously, the university had suspended interviews for commerce subject as names of selection committee members had leaked, a day ahead of interviews for appointment of contractual assistant professors at School of Commerce. The inquiry in the leak case is still underway.
However, the leak case has brought the entire appointment process under scanner as many believe that university failed to keep confidentiality of the appointment process.
Controversy over appointments
DAVV started process to fill regular posts of professors and readers with assistant professors on contract basis. Education watchdog and advocate Nimish Pathak and NSUI protested the move saying the process is in gross violation of norms. Pathak had alleged that the university was filling even the vacant posts of professors and readers also with assistant professors.
Vacancies to hit DAVV’s NAAC prospects
Grade A accredited DAVV was filling vacant posts ahead of NAAC’s visit fearing that vacancies may lead to downgrading of its accreditation status. The failed attempt of the university to fill vacancies may turn its fear into a reality.