BENGALURU: No university in the state will be allowed to recruit teaching and non-teaching staff from now on. Following allegations of corruption and favouritism, the state government has directed all universities to stop recruitment processes.
The Higher Education Department has constituted an expert committee to make recommendations on direct recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff at universities. Until the committee submits its recommendations, the universities aren’t allowed to recruit staff.
In a circular, the department has quoted the recent recruitment process at Karnataka state Sanskrit University, Bengaluru.
The circular says, “It has come to the notice of the state government that there is corruption and favouritism in the ongoing recruitment in universities.
Following that, the university authorities are directed not to proceed with the process. Most of the state universities do recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff through direct recruitment by conducting viva or personnel interviews. However, while recruiting staff through personal interviews, it has been observed that eligible meritorious candidates are ignored.”
As per the Higher Education Department the recruitment process is on at Kuvempu University Shivamogga, Davangere University, Davangere and Sanskrit University, Bengaluru.
Sources said many aspirants for teaching posts have approached government authorities and complained about corruption in recruitment.
A senior official said, “We have received oral complaints about some authorities and middlemen demanding `20-`25 lakh for teaching posts. As there are no written complaints, we cannot initiate any action. Further, based on a note sent by the higher education minister, we have constituted a committee to set some criterion for direct recruitment.”
A few months ago, Governor and Chancellor Vajubhai Vala had issued a similar circular
to all state universities asking them to get approval from Raj Bhavan for any recruitment.