The appointment scam which is haunting the Kumaon University is getting murkier with the legal counsel committee formed by the university yet to submit its report. The committee was supposed to hand over its report on December 14.
An alleged scam occurred during the years 2010 to 2013 in which 20 candidates managed to get appointment as Assistant Professors.
It is being alleged that these 20 candidates do not hold the necessary qualification as stipulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The matters came into reckoning when the Uttarakhand Governor or chancellor ordered to find truth in the allegations. Following on the Chancellor's order, the University constituted a committee consisting of all the deans and heads of departments to investigate the matter.
The committee however did not find any irregularities in the appointments. Interestingly in the executive council meeting the University accepted that the appointment of 20 assistant Professors was against the provisions of UGC. In what appeared as a face saving exercise the University again constituted a four member committee on November 14 to provide legal opinion to it on the issue.
The committee was given a time period of one month to submit its report. Interestingly on the orders of High court the governor had removed one of an assistant Professor appointed in the department of Physics.
The UGC mandates that the minimum eligibility qualification for being appointed as Assistant Professor in any University or college is National Eligibility Test (NET), State level Eligibility Test (SlET) of State Eligibility Test (SET).
The candidates who are awarded PhD degrees in compliance of the UGC regulations 2009 are exempted from the above mentioned criteria.
One of a person acquainted with the university said that most of the candidates which were appointed in the university against the norms of UGC are relatives of influential people of the State.
He alleged that two out of the four member legal advisory committee constituted by the University were members of the selection committees which selected these ineligible candidates.
“Can anyone think of fair inquiry by those who are themselves tainted in the scamIJ It is shocking that the University instead of taking action on the directive of the Governor, who happens to be the Chancellor of the university, is trying to cover up the matter,’’ said one of an observer.
When contacted the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University, H S Dhami told The Pioneer that the finding of the committee would be brought before the Executive council on January 16 and these recommendations would be forwarded to the Governor.