Recruitment rules: Rodrigues seeks Sibal intervention

Referring to the Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA),the Government College of Art (GCA),the Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology (CCET) and the Government Polytechnic for Women (GPW),Rodrigues wrote: “The future of these technical institutes is at stake and is causing serious concern. Similarly,in the case of recruitment rules for the post of principal at the Government College of Art,the necessary notification has not been issued so far,even after the filing of a contempt petition,which is still pending. Recruitment rules for CCET and GPW in respect of Group-A posts have also been sent to the Ministry for finalisation. I,therefore,request your intervention to have the matter looked into at the appropriate level,to expedite the finalisation of recruitment rules that have been sent to the Ministry.”

In another letter pertaining to all government colleges,he wrote: “All government colleges in Chandigarh are without regular principals and senior most lecturers have been asked to look after the work of principals. Government colleges in Chandigarh have a strength of around 3,000 to 4,000 students each and it is incorrect to entrust the colleges to officiating principals for such a long period. Apart from this,the senior most lecturers,who are otherwise eligible for promotion as principals,are retiring as lecturers and have been approaching various courts and claiming the pay scales of principals.”

Recruitment rules are yet to be notified for the post of principals in colleges,including government Arts and Science colleges and the Government College of Education; the director,State Institute of Education,Government Home Science College; and for the post of director,Regional Institute of English.

“The Chandigarh Administration has been facing extensive criticism from the media for not appointing regular principals in government colleges and institutes for years,despite the fact that the Administration has been vigorously and regularly pursuing the matter with the Ministry from time to time. Now,as the UT Administrator has stepped in,the chances of getting our demands met are quite high”,a senior UT Administration official said.

‘Institutes on the verge of collapse’

Calling the state of affairs quite alarming,Secretary (Education and Home) Ram Niwas said: “The state of affairs is quite critical here in the absence of any recruitment rules. Colleges are being run by lecturers in the absence of any regular principals. We intend that the recruitment rules be notified as soon as possible,so that the institutes/colleges can be saved from collapsing.”