The recent recruitment to various teaching posts in the Khallikote Cluster University (KCU) is now under the scanner of the Higher Education Department.
It is so conceived from the fact the department on Friday began investigations into the allegations that meritorious candidates were sidelined during course of recruitment.
Notably, the university recruited a total of 42 faculty positions, including six Professors, 12 Associate Professors and 24 Assistant Professors, for six Post Graduate departments.
The departments are library and Information Science, Bio-Science and Bio-Informatics, Natural Resource Management, Economics and Management, Tourism and Travel Management and Journalism, Mass Communication and Media Technology.
The recruitments were held at Bhubaneswar instead of Brahmapur between May 10 and June 2. Out of 42, a total of 29 faculty members, including a Professor, seven Associate Professors and 29 Assistant Professors, have joined by now.
According to information, a number of representations and petitions have reportedly been submitted to the Governor and the Higher Education department with allegations that the recruitments were made in violation of UGC norms and standard procedures.
As per UGC guidelines, a candidate seeking to be appointed in a Professor post should have a PhD degree and must have authored 10 books or got equivalent scholarly papers published and must have a minimum teaching experience of 10 years at the PG level and prescribed API (Academic Performance Indicator) score.
For the Associate Professor/Reader post, a PhD degress, five books or equivalent published scholarly papers, eight years’ teaching experience and API scare are the requirements.
Some candidates having rich experience, professional exposure and brilliant academic career alleged that UGC norms and guidelines were compromised during the recruitment for vested interests and, thus, they were deprived of jobs.
It is also alleged that while deserving candidates were not issued interview letters, applicants having no teaching experience were issued interview letters for Associate Professor posts. Non- teachers were invited as subject experts for conducting interviews.
Acting on these allegations, Higher Education Department started investigation on Friday. Additional Secretary PK Das reportedly held several rounds of discussion with the KUC Vice-Chancellor and University Registrar.
“I have collected all relevant documents right from advertisement till the appointment. We will carefully examine the procedures of appointment to ascertain whether the recent recruitment was in violation of the Government guidelines,” Das said.
He is expected to submit his report to the Government within a week, sources said.
On the other hand, the Vice Chancellor has stated that both UGC norms and standard procedures were followed strictly during the recruitment process. “We are ready to face any probe and will cooperate with the officials investigating the matter,” said the VC.