University Grants Commission deadline puts Telangana State in a fix

In addition to the appointment of Vice Chancellors, staff recruitment would be a mammoth task for the government. Universities now stand the risk of losing UGC grants under the General Development Grant.

Faculty recruitment in state universities has been stagnating over the past few years with hardly any new entrants. The state of Osmania University reflects the situation state universities are in. Of the 1,223 sanctioned teaching posts, a whopping 554 are vacant while many of the existing faculty members are set to retire.

Other universities like Kakatiya, Telangana, Mahatma Gandhi University are in a similar state. These universities have till the beginning of the next academic year to fill vacancies or stand to lose funding from the Centre. The UGC has said that recruitments would have to be undertaken on a mammoth scale to fill the gaps in the teaching apparatus.

“The UGC has never held back its commitment to provide the resources for this purpose to universities but expects that the university should play its part in the same spirit in ensuring filling up of all vacant positions in all subjects without further delay,” the UGC said in a letter to all universities.

Former university faculty say that it would be difficult to fill all the positions in the next six months. This is also keeping in view that seven universities in the state still don’t have Vice Chancellors.

Officials indicated that the search committee would be constituted soon to pick candidates for selection of Vice Chancellors. “Unless Vice Chancellors are appointed, staff recruitments cannot be undertaken.

And considering the time that is there, it is next to impossible,” a former Vice Chancellor of Telangana University said. The UGC in its letter said the directions should be followed so UGC doesn’t withhold funds to universities under the GDG.

“The notification for the search committee will be issued very soon,” said an education official. It is learnt that junior IAS or IPS officers will be appointed as officers on special duty or as registrars in a bid to exercise greater governmental control over the universities.

The arrangement will be similar to the AP Social welfare reside-ntial education institutions society, which is headed by an IPS officer.

“It need not be a senior level IAS officer. A junior level IAS or IPS officer or even a special grade deputy collector can be given the responsibility,” a senior education department officer said. Adding “The post of registrar can be given to the candidate because there is no academic professorship record required,”