HC glare on selection of assistant profs

The alleged irregularities include “magnanimity” of marks awarded and “forecasting” of selection of candidates by a selection committee even before the candidate has appeared for the interview.

The petitioner annexed the final selection sheets of the successful and unsuccessful candidates with his petition. Overwriting and cutting of marks were conspicuous in the final selection sheets. The selection committees of the university even selected some candidates who were awarded marks beyond the permissible limit.

While a total of 20 marks was allocated for the performance of a candidate during the interview,certain candidates were awarded 22-25 marks. Different marks were found to have been given for the score of a candidate in his/her graduation.

The petition pointed out other inconsistencies in the working of various selection committees,which were set up by GNDU to screen candidates for separate colleges. For example,at 3.30 pm,a candidate appeared before a selection committee,which declares her “already stands selected” for a different college. The candidate was yet to appear for the interview of the said college at 4.15 pm. “How did a selection committee know that a candidate would be selected by another selection committee and,that too,before she appeared for an interview?” the petitioner questioned.

These,the petitioner contended,demonstrated the “arbitrariness,mala fide intention and illegality” of the selection procedure. The petitioner,physically handicapped,has demanded quashing of the entire selection list for assistant professorship (economics). He has alleged that “unmeritorious” candidates were selected owing to “extraneous considerations”.

The petitioner also alleged that university authorities deliberately chalked out a selection procedure that reeks of arbitrariness. Fifty per cent marks was reserved for assessment of domain knowledge and teaching skills and interview performance. “The subjective component comes to 100 per cent,which is totally illegal and arbitrary. The selection procedure has been made to accommodate persons of their choice,” read the petition.

Advertisements for the post of assistant professors (economics) were issued by the university in March last year. A total of six vacancies were advertised for various colleges affiliated to the university.