The Union Shipping Ministry has given a clean chit to the recruitments made by Chennai-based Indian Maritime University, stating that there had been minor procedural inadequacies, which were resolved.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Union shipping secretary P K Sinha said a committee appointed to look into the alleged irregularities in recruitment of 31 IMU staff highlighted some procedural inadequacies. “These are minor issues. There are no excess recruitment beyond the sanctioned strength,” he said. IMU is a central university that comes under the shipping ministry. Ruling out any cancellation of the recruitment, Sinha said that there may be procedural inadequacies in the selection process but they are in no way violations or irregularities.
Talking of the procedural lapses, the official said that the recruitments were done without seeking sanction from the government. The approval was only accorded by the executive committee, he added. He said the other issue which was pointed out by the committee was that the ratio of permanent staff and contract staff was not considered during the selection process. To a query on former vice-chancellor G Raghuram’s resignation over differences on the faculty selection, Sinha said he had met all the faculty recruited by Raghuram. “They are highly qualified and suited for the job. The selection will not be cancelled,” he said.
The appointments by Raghuram came under the scanner after there were reports of procedural lapses. To a query on alleged reports that the faculty were asked to sign a letter stating that they agree to be redesignated as contract employees, Sinha said that this was not the ministry’s decision and he will look into the issue.