Indore: Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya on Friday announced plans to resume recruitment of contractual assistant professors, a day after it suspended the process citing an Ordinance passed by union cabinet.
“Through the Ordinance, the Centre restored 200-point roster taking college or university as a unit for reservation in teaching posts. In view of the Ordinance, we had suspended the appointments process. Same will be resumed from March 11,” said vice chancellor Dr Narendra Dhakad.
He said university had clearly mentioned in its advertisement for assistant professors’ appointments that the roster may change as per new UGC guidelines.
“The university reserves the right to fill or not to fill up vacancies advertised if the circumstances so warrant. Any consequential vacancies arising at the time of interview may be filled up from the available candidates. The number of positions in different categories may also change as per new guidelines from UGC,” the advertisement reads.
Citing the ordinance, the UGC also on Friday directed university to treat university as one unit. Previously, the university departments used to be treated as different units as per 13-point roster. DAVV has also advertised its vacancies treating university teaching departments as separate units.
The interviews of appointment of assistant professors on contract basis against vacant regular posts were undertaken at DAVV on February 27.
The appointments were to be done for 35 subjects. The university conducted interviews for 20 subjects till Thursday. Appointments for 15 more subjects were to be done till March 29. But the process has been suspended. The interviews for School of Biochemistry scheduled for Friday was not done following the order to suspend interview.
DHE’s order still thORN in DAVV’s flesh
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. A complaint regarding this was also lodged with Department of Higher Education which had directed the university not to declare the final selection list until the complaint was resolved. The complaint is still remains unaddressed.
NAAC fear shook DAVV
Grade A accredited DAVV was filling vacant posts ahead of NAAC’s visit fearing that vacancies may lead to downgrading of its accreditation status. When the 200 point roster was restored, the university feared that its prospects for getting a good grade from NAAC would be hit. Moved by the fear, the university on Friday found a way out of the problem and decided to proceed with on-going appointments.
