‘Recruitment through KEA will affect universities'

Higher Education Minister G T Devegowda’s latest solution to fill vacant posts in state universities has caused concern among vice-chancellors about the future of the varsities, as they feel that it will cost the varsities their UGC recognition.

Devegowda recently said that he will streamline the recruitment process for universities through Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to curb irregularities in direct recruitment.

Since the said solution was against the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms, most VCs said the government was trying to take control of the varsities. “The minister may not be aware of UGC rules and regulations. The people around him are misleading him. The recruitment should be done based on UGC norms and the government cannot interfere,” a VC said.

As the UGC has stopped fresh recruitments, universities are managing with guest faculties. VCs claim that they were maintaining standards even in the recruitment of guest faculties.

“We are hiring guest faculties who have cleared NET or equivalent exam to ensure quality. If the government brings in KEA, how can we ensure quality? The government is talking of corruption at the university level, while forgetting corruption that happens in KPSC exams. This move will make the universities just another government department,” another VC said.

A former VC said the government should discuss such measures with education experts before starting the procedure.

The government must amend the present university Act, the amendment should be cleared by both Houses of the legislature and sent to the Governor for approval. Several attempts were made to contact Devegowda to know about his stand on the row, but in vain.