Change in recruitment rules irks UGC officials
Akshaya Mukul
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New Delhi:
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A change in recruitment rules has led to resentment in the University Grants Commission (UGC), resulting in more than 15 officers submitting a representation to the secretary of the higher education regulator requesting that the rules be either amended or kept in abeyance.Officers, who plan to knock at the doors of Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar, allege that the new recruitment rules notified in August could create a chasm between direct recruits at the level of deputy secretary or joint secretary and promotees.
For instance, the new recruitment rules mandate that only a person with a first class in masters degree can be promoted to the post of deputy secretary , the aggrieved officers said.
They added that a large number of under secretaries and education officers in the UGC had a PhD but did not have first class in postgraduation.
“They cannot be promoted as deputy secretary now,“ an officer said, pointing out that the commission had prescribed 55% in postgraduation for assistant professors.
The officers said the qualification requirement for the position of joint secretary was “ironic“. It says a person should have a “doctorate in any discipline with first or second class masters degree“. An officer said, “This criteria means that someone who is not eligible for the post of deputy secretary either through direct recruitment or through promotion due to second class in masters can become eligible for the post of joint secretary .“
A questionnaire sent to the UGC early in September went unanswered.
Another problem with the new recruitment rules, officers said, was the capping of age at 45 years (relaxable up to five years) for promotion to the position of deputy secretary.
“This means several eligible officers will have to continue as education officer or under secretary until retirement just because they have crossed the age limit,“ the officer said.
Similar problems have been pointed out in the case of promotion to the post of joint secretary .
For instance, the new recruitment rules mandate that only a person with a first class in masters degree can be promoted to the post of deputy secretary , the aggrieved officers said.
They added that a large number of under secretaries and education officers in the UGC had a PhD but did not have first class in postgraduation.
“They cannot be promoted as deputy secretary now,“ an officer said, pointing out that the commission had prescribed 55% in postgraduation for assistant professors.
The officers said the qualification requirement for the position of joint secretary was “ironic“. It says a person should have a “doctorate in any discipline with first or second class masters degree“. An officer said, “This criteria means that someone who is not eligible for the post of deputy secretary either through direct recruitment or through promotion due to second class in masters can become eligible for the post of joint secretary .“
A questionnaire sent to the UGC early in September went unanswered.
Another problem with the new recruitment rules, officers said, was the capping of age at 45 years (relaxable up to five years) for promotion to the position of deputy secretary.
“This means several eligible officers will have to continue as education officer or under secretary until retirement just because they have crossed the age limit,“ the officer said.
Similar problems have been pointed out in the case of promotion to the post of joint secretary .
Source: Times of India, 5-10-2016
