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Punjabi University flouts norms
in recruitment, gives jobs without ads
WSN Network
CHANDIGARH: In a
rather blatant example of how political influence is at work in
universities and norms are being flouted, it has now come to light
that Patiala's Punjabi University has appointed 144 people in the
non-teaching cadre on an ad hoc or contract basis without
advertising the posts during the tenure of incumbent Vice-Chancellor
Dr Jaspal Singh.
Documents
gathered through a Right To Information (RTI) Act query revealed
that many were allegedly given back-door employment in a blatant
violation of the undertaking the university had given to the Punjab
and Haryana High Court in May this year that it would advertise the
posts.
According to
information the university furnished under the RTI to advocate H.C.
Arora, of the 144, 51 people were appointed after the May 28, 2009
ruling of the Division Bench of then Chief Justice Tirath Singh
Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta, wherein the university was directed
to adopt a fair and transparent procedure in appointments.
In response to a
query, the university admitted having made 144 appointments without
issuing advertisements.
The
Vice-Chancellor was not available for comments, while Registrar Dr
S.S. Khehra said: "We had given a road map to the High Court in May
pertaining to filling the posts on regular/contract basis following
public advertisement instead of ad hoc. However, these appointments
have been made as a temporary arrangement till regular posts are
filled. Therefore, the posts were not advertised."
The appointments
are not only in violation of Supreme Court rulings but also
contravene Article 16 of the Constitution, that provides for
equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. The apex
court has held that appointments without following procedure and
inviting applications will amount to breach of Articles 14 and 16.
Advocate and RTI
activist H.C. Arora had challenged the 431 non-teaching appointments
made without advertising posts during the tenure of former
Vice-Chancellor S.S. Boparai.
The university
had given a tentative plan to fill 414 vacancies in the non-teaching
cadres at different levels. By way of an affidavit submitted on May
23, 2009, it assured the Court: "The university proposes to
advertise 409 posts in 52 categories...It seeks permission to fill
some posts on contract basis after following the due transparent
open procedure by advertisement and strictly following the
eligibility qualification also."
The university
had sought permission to appoint people on contract for three or
five years to lessen the "financial burden".
The High Court
had pointed out that "even for purposes of contractual
appointments," the university would follow "a transparent, credible
and objective method of selection by an open advertisement" to
ensure all eligible candidates "have an opportunity to compete".
However, the
university has not only appointed on contract 51 people after the
court order but also has given regular appointment to 14 ad-hoc
employees who were adjusted against other posts without inviting
applications. Of these 14, 12 have been adjusted as laboratory
attendants, one as a shop attendant, and another as a library
restorer.
23
December 2009
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