Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 25

The exchange of documents between Punjabi University and Vigilance Department for the compilation of a report by the department regarding the university’s hiring of 62 teachers by exempting them from UGC NET qualification is still going on.

Officials in the Vigilance Department said the university was yet to take a decision if the hiring was faulty and send them the relevant documents. Officials at the university said the process was ongoing.

The university had hired 62 assistant professors from 2009 to 2016 on the basis of PhD, giving them exemption from the UGC NET. A student later complained that ineligible candidates were hired on regular posts. Then acting Vice-Chancellor Anurag Verma formulated a committee which pointed out two changes, including abolishing the screening committee for the recruitment and that the exemption was not in accordance with the UGC regulations of 2009. The official preparing the report said: “The legality of these two points needs to be examined in detail as the recruitment was not as per the UGC rules.”

Later, an external committee also probed the matter and submitted its findings.

When contacted today, AIG Ashish Kapoor, Vigilance Department, said a report regarding the matter was pending as the university was yet to submit them some documents. “We had demanded the documents, but some of them are yet to be submitted. The university is yet to take its decision in the matter. Therefore, we are awaiting the related documents from them and will send a report after.”

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Arvind said the dispatch of documents was an ongoing process. “They are compiling a report as they are supposed to respond to the court. Moreover, in the end, the university will itself have to take a decision as it is not a financial matter. We are providing them with documents as per their demands and requirement.”