UGC writes to state govt, OPSC pointing out violation of SC order
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to the higher education department of the Odisha government and the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) pointing out the violation of the Supreme Court stay order on the Odisha Universities Act, 2020.
Representative Image. BHUBANESWAR: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to the higher education department of the Odisha government and the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) pointing out the violation of the Supreme Court stay order on the Odisha Universities Act, 2020.
Since the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff by the OPSC and State Selection Board (SSB) is directly an issue in the case pending before the Supreme Court, the ongoing recruitment process by the agencies violates the SC order, said the UGC.
As per the UGC regulations, the academic staff in universities are picked by a duly constituted selection committee of the university concerned. However, the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020 gives such recruitment power to the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC).
“Despite the stay granted by the Supreme Court, the OPSC (a respondent in the SLP) is continuing to undertake recruitment to the post of assistant professor (sociology) and assistant professor (commerce) by issuing advertisements on May 23 and May 24 respectively,” said UGC secretary Rajnish Jain in the letter issued on Wednesday.
The commission stated that the continuation of the recruitment process will be in the teeth of the stay order granted by the apex court. It informed the state government to take note of the Supreme Court order and refrain from undertaking any further steps for any recruitment of teachers/ faculty and non-teaching staff.
“The Supreme Court’s stay order also applies with respect to any recruitment process that commenced prior to the May 20 stay order. The UGC also reserves all its rights to take appropriate legal remedy in this regard,” read the UGC letter.
So far, the OPSC has managed to complete the recruitment process of more than 200 faculty members of the universities out of over 800 posts. Process for recruitment of the rest of the teacher posts is in different stages and it may get affected because of the court order.
Higher education department secretary Saswat Mishra did not comment on the issue. OPSC sources said they will take legal opinion on the ongoing recruitment process after going through the UGC letter.
Since the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff by the OPSC and State Selection Board (SSB) is directly an issue in the case pending before the Supreme Court, the ongoing recruitment process by the agencies violates the SC order, said the UGC.
On May 20, the Supreme Court stayed the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020, which has been challenged on the ground that it violated the UGC Regulations, 2018, particularly in the matter of selection of vice-chancellors and faculty members. The UGC has filed one of the two special leave petitions (SLP) in the apex court.
As per the UGC regulations, the academic staff in universities are picked by a duly constituted selection committee of the university concerned. However, the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020 gives such recruitment power to the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC).
“Despite the stay granted by the Supreme Court, the OPSC (a respondent in the SLP) is continuing to undertake recruitment to the post of assistant professor (sociology) and assistant professor (commerce) by issuing advertisements on May 23 and May 24 respectively,” said UGC secretary Rajnish Jain in the letter issued on Wednesday.
The commission stated that the continuation of the recruitment process will be in the teeth of the stay order granted by the apex court. It informed the state government to take note of the Supreme Court order and refrain from undertaking any further steps for any recruitment of teachers/ faculty and non-teaching staff.
“The Supreme Court’s stay order also applies with respect to any recruitment process that commenced prior to the May 20 stay order. The UGC also reserves all its rights to take appropriate legal remedy in this regard,” read the UGC letter.
So far, the OPSC has managed to complete the recruitment process of more than 200 faculty members of the universities out of over 800 posts. Process for recruitment of the rest of the teacher posts is in different stages and it may get affected because of the court order.
Higher education department secretary Saswat Mishra did not comment on the issue. OPSC sources said they will take legal opinion on the ongoing recruitment process after going through the UGC letter.
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