Unqualified teach here

Hyd varsity flouts rules, appoints ineligible candidates

Hyderabad: Appointment of many candidates to various posts in the prestigious University of Hyderabad (UOH) was made circumventing the Screening Committee objection on the selections during the last two years much to the loss of students.

Some of the ineligible candidates who were appointed hold key responsibilities such as the post of Dean compromising on the quality. Information obtained under the Right to Information Act, 2005 revealed that several faculty members were fraudulently appointed even though they didn’t have essential qualifications. Further, the selections were made ignoring the objections by the Screening Committee.

For instance, Dr Ananthakrishnan, in his application, had clearly mentioned that he had completed both MA and Ph D during the same year 1990. It raises a basic question as to how he completed both the degrees in the same year. However, as a cover-up bid, the University has shown that the candidate had completed his Ph D in 1991 in the records. Ananthakrishnan was re-appointed as Dean for the 2nd term.

The application of Dr Vineet C P Nair indicates his nationality as ‘Indian’, while his passport shows his citizenship as ‘Australian’. As per the government guidelines, OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) shall not be entitled to the rights conferred on a citizen of India. He is currently holding the post of Assistant Professor. Screening Committee minutes mention about the OCI status and ineligibility of Dr Vineet as per AICTE norms.

While Dr Rishi Bharadwaj’s application clearly mentions that he had passed only Matriculation, Degree and Ph D with no mention of Intermediate and PG, the minimum essential qualification. The Screening Committee categorically stated that he was not eligible. However, university records show that he has passed Intermediate. The Screening Committee minutes & HR section observations’ file clearly mentioned him as ‘not eligible’.

Similarly, four other faculty members -- Dr V China Venkaiah, Surya Prakash, Dr Salman Abdul Moiz and Dr T Shoba Rani -- were mentioned as ‘not eligible’ by the Screening Committee. Note file of the Registrar clearly states that the period of time taken by the candidates to acquire M Phil or Ph D shall not be considered. These appointments were made during the tenure of Prof Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, former Vice Chancellor of the university.

“There were many other candidates who were fulfilling all the eligibility criteria. The former VC had fraudulently selected these candidates depriving the opportunity to other eligible candidates,” says Telangana RTI Forum founder president Gadda Tirupati. The issue was also taken up by Congress MP V Hanumantha Rao with Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani in 2014.

“The present VC appointed faculty with doubtful integrity to nominated posts. UGC regulations were not followed and faculty promoted without taking into consideration the mandatory API scores,” he stated in the complaint to the Union Minister. The University of Hyderabad United Employees Union (UHUEU) has also pointed out irregularities in the appointments and promotions in its letter to the Vice Chancellor in August 2014.

“It is observed that misuse of power, public money and deliberate irregularities are taking place in the university,” stated general secretary K Sebastian. Responding to the allegations, In-charge Registrar M Sudhakar said individual cases had to be understood, even though there were no supporting documents. “The selection committee need not follow the suggestions made by the Screening Committee,” he said.

By Md Nizamuddin