The retreat of M S University (MSU) veterans has created a hiatus in the teaching pattern, with little efforts made to speed up the administrative procedures for recruiting permanent teaching staff in the varsity. On the other hand, the fact that appointment of new teaching staff is a backdoor entry, is an open secret. With no alternatives, the temporary lecturers are given permanent posts in some faculties, while the posts of professors remain vacant in a few faculties.With an intention to fill up this gap, the Centre had issued a Government Resolution (GR) a few months ago, wherein retired professors were allowed to teach till the age of 65 on a contract basis, after selection. However, the issue remains unsolved after a major chaos in the Syndicate meeting, with the authorities blaming administrative politics.Prof Nikhil Desai, treasurer, All India Federation of University Teachers Organisation (AIFUCTO), told Newsline: “MSU is going through a phase where a chunk of professors are retiring. The appointment of the new permanent teaching staff remains an uphill task for the administration.” He added: “Although the posts of readers and lecturers have been filled, those of professors remain vacant. For, a very few candidates are willing to join MSU. The reason: There are no additional benefits.”Prof Desai, who is from MSU's Geology department, further said: “Since the MSU authorities do not have better options, Temporary Lecturers are often appointed as permanent teaching staff.”Seeking anonymity, an official said: “Temporary Lecturers are back door entries. The stipulated time frame for them is five years, which generally exceeds to more than nine years. After this, they are appointed as permanent staff through favouritism.”The authorities in the Commerce faculty, which has the largest number of students, are making up for the shortage of teaching staff by allowing the retired teachers to teach as visiting faculties.Vice-Chancellor Prof Ramesh Goyal admitted to the delay in the appointment of permanent staff due to bureaucratic hiccups. He said: “There are several hidden reasons, which I am trying to solve now, and make the appointments as soon as possible.”When asked about the issue of the appointment of retired staff, he said: “This matter was raised in the Syndicate meeting. We are looking into it and will sort out the issue soon.”
