Karnataka govt to hire guest faculty who meet UGC’s eligibility criteria

Bengaluru: In the wake of the Department of Collegiate Education deciding to hire guest lecturers who meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) – teachers must either have cleared NET/KSET or have a PhD – more than 5,500 guest faculty, many of whom have been teaching for decades, are slated to lose their job.

The department’s decision follows the recent ruling by the Karnataka High Court mandating the state government to ensure that guest lecturers appointed to government degree colleges met the UGC’s eligibility criteria. Incidentally, guest lecturers had been granted a two-month extension or until tge 3nd of the semester so they could complete teaching for one semester at their respective institutions. 

Candidates who possess the qualifications prescribed by the UGC had moved the court after the Karnataka government persisted with continuing with guest lecturers already serving at colleges but who had neither cleared KSET/NET nor had a PhD. 

However, the state government has informed the High Court about the shortage of candidates who meet UGC’s criteria for a few subjects. The court has allowed the Department of Collegiate Education to hire teachers who do not possess the necessary qualifications only for such subjects. “We will recruit guest lecturers only for those subjects for which there are candidates who have the qualifications prescribed by the UGC,” said an official from the department.

‘Disabled candidates being favoured’

Candidates, meanwhile, have accused the Department of Collegiate Education of not adhering to the state government’s reservation norms. Candidates alleged that the department was favouring specially abled candidates over others.

“The department is hiring physically disabled candidates on priority. For instance, more than 300 candidates have applied for the job of political science lecturer. Instead of allotting the prescribed number of seats under the persons with disability quota, the department is allowing the specially-abled candidates to choose first,” said a disgruntled applicant.

A few candidates have warned the department of moving the court if it persists in favouring specially abled applicants.