The three-member committee formed by the lieutenant Governor to probe into complaints of irregularities in selections of professors and associate professors in Delhi Technological University (DTU) has found grave anomalies and gross violation of recruitment norms of the university.
The report has been referred to the Chief Secretary of Delhi for further action. The committee, headed by former Chief Secretary R Narayanaswamy, studied applications of all 38 candidates selected and have found seven who ought not to have been chosen. DTU had sought applications for 94 posts, including 34 posts of professors and 60 posts of associate professors.
According to committee’s report, Dr Pushpender Singh, who had joined DTU as professor, did not have the relevant experience for assistant professor or equivalent with academic grade pay of Rs6,000 and above. Apparently, the scrutiny committee cleared his case for interview. The committee observed that Singh ought not to have been called for interview because a 1.5-year stint as assistant manager in SBI does not count towards relevant experience.
In case of Dr Jaigopal Sharma, who had joined as Associate Professor of Biotechnology, the committee found him ineligible for interview. “Sharma had a second division at the B.Sc (zoology) level. As per the advertisement, the essential qualification was first division at both UG and PG levels. In fact the scrutiny committee pointed out this deficiency. However, he was called at the instance of the vice-chancellor and selected,” the report said.
In the case of Dr PK Rana, Commodore in the Indian Navy, who had applied for the post of professor in Automobile Engineering, was considered equivalent to mechanical engineering. The scrutiny committee did not clear his name on the ground that the PG degree was in Marine Engg, which was not relevant to his application for the post of professor in mechanical engg.
“On considering his representation, the vice-chancellor permitted him to attend the interview on the ground that Marine Engg involves Automobile Engg and also Mech. Engg. Besides the applicant held a PhD from IIT Madras and he had a MSc Marine Engg from the prestigious Royal Marine Engg College-UK. Permitting him to appear for interview and thereafter selecting him was irregular and a deviation. Rana did not join DTU,” the report said.
According to report, Dr Deepa Singh, who had been selected for the post of Associate Prof (Applied Maths) did not fulfil the essential qualifications but selected. She joined but left DTU subsequently. Similarly, Dr Pravir Kumar should not have been called for interview. But he was selected and joined DTU as Associate Prof (Biotechnology) despite the scrutiny committee pointed out deficiency in his essential qualification.
On whether there were irregularities in appointments made in 2012, the committee’s report says, “Those who were interviewed without fulfilling prescribed qualifications and selected were the favoured ones, as through participation in the interview, they possibly deprived more deserving candidates of selection.”
The committee has raised doubts about applications shortlisted by the screening committee headed by Prof Pathak as also those applications of candidates permitted to participate in the interview on orders of the vice-chancellor, even though their cases had not been cleared by the screening committee.
Further, random sample of about 50 applications drawn from the 300 odd applications not shortlisted for interview and the applications of all SC/OBC candidates who had applied but who were not shortlisted for interview were also gone through. Of the seven candidates, the committee felt “should not have been called for interviews”, five are employed at DTU.
There were five candidates “who had not been cleared for interview by the scrutiny committee but were permitted to appear on being considered personally by the VC.” The committee also went through 64 applications that the Department of Training and Technical Education (DTTE) found “deficient” but whose candidates were still interviewed. Six were found ineligible.
But the most damning revelation is that DTU didn’t call for interviews several eligible candidates. Studying 50 of 300 rejected applications, it found at least three who “ought not to have been rejected.” According to report, Dr Vandana Vikas Thackarey who had applied for the post of Associate Professor Computer Engg, was eligible and the her application was wrongly rejected.
The Chief Secretary has held two meetings on this enquiry committee’s report. The Department of Higher and Technical Education has sought opinion of law department on the matter.