Mangalore University recruitments mired in controversies

Mangalore University recruitments mired in controversies

mangaloretoday.com/ DHNS

Mangalore: Nov 27, 2013, DHNS:  A day after the All India conference of Higher Education Ministers in Bangalore, that emphasised on Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), allegations have mired the recruitment process in Mangalore University, one of the ‘cleanest’ universities in the State.

Though the recruitments for various posts including that of professors, associate professors and assistant professors began on October 27, 2013, most of the ‘victims’ of ‘recruitment racket’ have maintained silence fearing their ‘future’ as most of them have been working in some or the other universities and a slightest resent from the ‘victims’ may backfire them in their future endeavours.

 

The ‘misadventures’ of the authorities concerned came to light when a number of aspiring candidates (for the post of Professors / Associate Professors / Assistant Professors) were waiting in the Mangalore University premises on November 8 when the Syndicate meeting was going on to approve for the posts for which interviews were conducted during the previous 13 days.

“Less than 30 minutes after the Syndicate meeting concluded, aspirants from as many as 9 departments collected their appointment orders,” said a source and added that there is no way that the aspirants come to know of their results less than 24 to 48 hours of the Syndicate meeting. The aspirants, not only collected their orders on the same day, but joined for duty soon after, much to the dismay of other staff in the university.

Rules flouted

Right from Day 1 of the recruitment, the university has flouted rules on every front. Be it reservation, merit or discretion, the university has flouted the rules as per the whims and fancies of screening committee chairperson (who is also an aspirant for the post of Registrar), according to sources in the university.

A case in point is the recruitment for the post of Professors and Associate Professors in the Kannada department, held on Tuesday.

A talented candidate from coastal region (who is presently working in Tumkur university) was not called for interview at all (though he is qualified). Upon learning the incident, he wrote a letter to the Chancellor (Governor) and a copy to the university, following which he was orally called for interview. On the other hand, two others from Bangalore University were called for interview, but were sent back saying that they were “not qualified.” “If I am not qualified, why did they call me for interview,” the candidate asked this correspondent.

In another classic case, a candidate from Mysore university was called for interview for Associate Professor’s post in the History department, though she is not qualified. “The UGC guidelines stipulates that the candidate’s teaching experience (minimum 8 years as permanent staff) certificate should be issued by the Principal of the respective college and attested by the Joint Director and confirmed by the Registrar of the university concerned.” However, in this case, neither the JD has attested nor the Registrar has confirmed, sources told Deccan Herald.

What has baffled many potential candidates is the fact that the candidates are informed only two to three days in advance of the interview. “The entire process has been managed in such a way that, by the time a candidate learns that he or she is not called for the interview, the interview is over, as only the candidate (mostly pre-determined) is informed over a phone call, e-mail as well as registered post only two to three days prior to the interviews.

In the case of backlog candidates, the rule states that the selected candidates have to produce ‘eligibility certificate’ (UGC new regulation dated July 24, 2013, page no. 17-30, Sindutwa Pramana Patra order no. SWD/137/BCA/93,4. Nov 1993) before reporting for duty. However, in the case of university, many have already reported for duty soon after getting appointment orders, which is a clear violation of UGC guidelines. It takes a few weeks, if not months to procure the certficate.

Another interesting aspect pointed out by another source is that a good majority of candidates are selected from Mysore region and most of them belong to right wing of Dalits.

VC clarifies

Meanwhile, when contacted Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof T C Shivshankar Murthy said that interviews are being done transparently and any candidate is free to check his application. To an allegation that the candidates are informed only two to three days in advance, the vice chancellor said that the candidates are sent letters six days in advance.