Tamil Nadu   

Court bars interviews for recruitment of lecturers

Special Correspondent

Petition challenges Government notification on selection criteria

CHENNAI : The Madras High Court has restrained the State Government from conducting interviews for recruiting 1,000 lecturers for appointment in Government arts, science and colleges of education in the State.

Passing interim orders on a writ petition filed by the Association for NET/SLET Qualified Teachers and Candidates, Justice P. Jyothimani ordered maintenance of status quo as on date while "making it clear that other proceedings can go on except the process of interview."

The Government Order proposing to recruit about 1,000 lecturers was issued on July 5, 2006, and a consequential notification was issued by the Higher Education Department on September 18, 2006.

According to the notification, candidates possessing teaching experience in universities and colleges were given one mark for each completed year, subject to the maximum of 15 marks; 12 marks for Ph.D completed before October 13, 2006; six marks for M.Phil/Ph.D with NET/SLET; and 10 marks for books or articles published at the rate of two marks per book and one mark per article.

Selection procedure

The petitioner-association said the non-application of mind by the authorities was reflected in the fact that no weightage in marks had been given to candidates possessing master's degree with NET/SLET eligibility. The GO and the prospectus treated unequals as equals, it said, adding that the present selection procedure was highly arbitrary and liable to be struck down.

The selection procedure contemplated only an interview without a written examination, it pointed out, and said the selection would not be proper and merit-based.

The petitioner-association also assailed a University Grants Commission notification making candidates without NET qualification eligible to become a lecturer, and said it was illegal and unjustified.

In June this year, the UGC came out with an amendment that candidates having Ph.D degree in the subjects concerned were exempted from NET qualification for teaching at post-graduate as well as under-graduate level. It exempted those having M.Phil degree from NET qualification for the purpose of teaching at under-graduate level.

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