Selection of lecturers
Varsities' powers curtailed
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 17 — The selection process of lecturers in various private (affiliated) colleges in the state may be delayed due to certain changes in the formation of selection committees which 'curtail' powers of the universities.

The Association of Principals (colleges affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University) has decided to oppose the move.

As per the fresh instructions of the state government, the strength of the university nominees will be decreased from three to one and the heads of department of the colleges concerned, where appointments will be made, will have no say while selecting the lecturers. With this, the Director, Public Instructions (Colleges) will have more say in the selection process instead of the universities.

Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar, Guru Nanak Dev University, when contacted told TNS that the university had not yet received official communication from the state government. However, he said he had learnt that the state government had issued a fresh circular for changing the pattern of selection committees which might delay selections in private colleges. Dr S.P. Singh, Dean, Colleges, however, while talking to this correspondent said the selection of lecturers in Nakodar (Jalandhar) and some other colleges would be deferred in view of the "ambiguous" order.

As per the new instructions to the DPI (Colleges), the state government has said amendments had been made in the instructions of 1994 for selecting principals and lecturers in the aided private colleges. Under this, the panel of the selection committee would include chairman of the management committee of the college concerned or his nominee, representative of the university concerned who should also be an expert in the subject, principal of the college, a representative of the DPI (Colleges) and subject expert, nominated by the DPI (Colleges).

Mr Ashwani Kumar Sharma, president of the Association of Principals (affiliated to GNDU) told TNS that fresh instructions which had allegedly curtailed the powers of Vice Chancellors and management committees of the private colleges while making selection of lecturers and principals were "very disturbing" He alleged that the state government had committed a "big fraud" on the private colleges by changing the pattern of the UGC on the issue. He further alleged that fair selections with the amendment of rules was 'impossible' as the DPI would be able to "impose" his own candidates on the private colleges.

Sources pointed out that the fresh instructions of the state government were issued allegedly in gross violation of the UGC instructions issued in 1986. Under the UGC instructions, lecturers in the private colleges (affiliated) would be selected by a panel consisting of the principal of the college, head of the department of the department concerned, a nominee of the DPI, a Vice Chancellor's nominee and two subject experts to be selected out of the panel of experts submitted by the Vice Chancellors. However, after few years, the above notification was changed.

During the Beant Singh Government, the Council for Higher Education again revised the UGC notification for selecting lecturers in the private affiliated colleges. Principals of the privately managed colleges plead that the SAD-BJP government had again revised the pattern for selecting lecturers which was earlier rejected by the Beant Singh Government. The fresh instructions were issued without consulting the universities.