Despite the Higher Education Minister announcing that a Vice-Chancellor (V-C) cannot make any kind of recruitments or appointments three months before his or her tenure ends, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) V-C is on a recruitment spree.
Sources in the VTU confirmed that V-C Dr Maheshappa did conduct interviews for recruitment in several departments on Wednesday too. “The interviews are being conducted since a week for various posts in the PG departments. More than 100 interviews have been scheduled in brief duration to finalise the candidates for the vacancies in MTech faculty posts. These interviews are scheduled to be held throughout June,” said a source.
On Tuesday, during the announcement of Common Entrance Test(CET) 2013, Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande had mentioned that appointment orders and recruitments, tender approvals and sanctions cannot be made by a V-C whose term will end in three months time. Deshpande also said that transparent procedures with regard to the process of recruitment will soon be adopted.
When contacted, Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department Rajneesh Goel said: “A notice was sent to the VTU V-C to stop the on going process of recruitments and tenders approvals. The communique was sent to the university recently. However, even if the V-C makes the appointments, the Syndicate has to approve it before it is materialised.”
Goel said that it is also part of the regulations that a V-C cannot make any recruitment three months before his or her tenure ends.
It may be recalled that a committee headed by retired Justice Abhay Goyil was constituted by Governor H R Bhardwaj (who is also the VTU Chancellor) to enquire into the matter of alleged fraudulent charges against V-C Maheshappa.
Although the committee report was submitted to the Governor in December, no action was take.
Maheshappa’s term will end on June 30.