IKG-PTU caught up in self-imposed eligibility norms

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 28

Even as the IK Gujral Punjab Technical University has been going ahead with the recruitment of its teaching faculty for its own campus, it is caught up in its self-imposed strict norms. 

The varsity has restricted offer of posts for assistant professors, associate professors and professors only for PhD qualified candidates, which is otherwise not a requirement as per the UGC guidelines. Since there are very few doctorates in the 10 courses wherein the varsity is making appointments, it is finding much lower number of candidates than that required.

For instance, there is just one suitable candidate for the post of assistant professor in journalism and mass communication, who was the sole qualifier and the only candidate to be interviewed and given the offer letter. The move of the varsity is getting criticism as the non-PhD candidates are crying foul. "How can IKG-PTU have its own norms? There is no competition left among the candidates. There at least should be three qualifying candidates among whom the panel can make a choice. Further, a guide of the candidate was in the expert panel. The entire process is a farce. The authorities should have re-advertised the post more widely to get more candidates for selection," rued those left out.

Dean (Academics) Dr Buta Singh said, "The rider of PhD qualification was added to get more qualified staff, which we are getting. Of course, the number of candidates has become limited in some streams and we may not be able to fill all the advertised posts. The entire process of recruitment is very transparent".

In addition to the nearly 30 posts advertised earlier, the varsity has last week advertised 27 more posts, including those of nine professors, 10 associate professors and eight assistant professors. 

Rakesh Verma, officiating VC and Secretary of the Technical Education, said, "There is no such rule that we cannot make an appointment, if a single candidate has applied. We can appoint the candidate provided that he/she meets all the requirements and clears the interview."