Varsity appointments dogged in controversies
Recruitment of teachers in the State varsities is mired in controversies with several such recruitments being probed for irregularities. While some enquiries found violation of norms in appointments, the Government has failed to consider recruitments through a central agency though it had decided in favour of it earlier.
Besieged with complaints of irregularities and violation of norms in appointments, the A.P. State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) decided in July 2010 to opt for centralised recruitment mode or recruitments through the APPSC. But the committee to be constituted is yet to take shape even as the allegations of irregularities continue to haunt.
As of now enquiry is on over the teaching appointments in Adikavi Nannayya University in Rajahmundry and the authorities have found some prima facie evidence. Earlier, three enquiry committees found irregularities in the appointments made in Dravidian University, Kuppam; Kakatiya University, Warangal and Srikrishna Devaraya University, Anantapur. These committees were headed by prominent people like Ramakrishnayya (for Dravidian University); Suleman Siddiqui (for Kakatiya University) and Justice Hanumantappa (for SKD University).
Similarly, complaints over appointments in Telangana University, Nizamabad are with the APSCHE. However, an enquiry is not yet ordered. Even in case of recruitments in Osmania University, there have been complaints of irregularities. These pertain to violation of roaster plan, fake experience certificates of applicants and relaxation of pre-requisite qualification.
Nepotism and favouritism were feared by the aspirants as the Government in 2006 decided to go for massive recruitment of 1,500 teaching positions, but in a phased manner. Enormous interest was generated as recruitments in universities were sanctioned almost after two decades.
“We expected lot of political pressure and favoured common recruitment process,” explained an official, who was with APSCHE then. “Most teaching positions at Assistant Professors levels did not benefit the varsities due to various reasons and it badly affects the teaching work in the universities,” officials said in a note prepared in support of adopting an alternative method of recruitment. It was agreed upon to appointment a committee to work out the modalities.
Given the ongoing controversies, a senior official says, recruitments through APPSC will benefit the genuine candidates. He agrees that VCs are under tremendous pressure and it is difficult to withstand in the present situation in the State.