TIRUNELVELI: Prof Dr Krishnan Baskar, vice chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundarnar University (MSU), Tirunelveli, has categorically denied the allegations against him in filling up 54 faculty vacancies in the university. Reacting to the charges made by the main Left parties and the students wing affiliated to them and the MUTA of serious malpractices in the recruitment process at MSU, the vice chancellor said that so far 27 posts have been filled up and the recruitment process to select the eligible candidates for another 27 sanctioned posts at MSU was underway.
Stating that the recruitment of faculty members were being made as per the UGC norms, Dr Krishnan Baskar said that the candidates have been selected by the committee comprising three former vice-chancellors, four subject experts and two academicians from other universities. “The recruitment kept pending for about five years at MSU has been taken up now, as with a shortfall of staff below hundred, the MSU has been accredited with ‘B’ grade status by the National Assessment and Accreditation council of India (NACC),” said the vice-chancellor, who added that filling up of the 54 vacancies of faculties is a must to enhance the quality of the university by which it may be accredited the ‘A’ grade by the NACC committee.
As per the UGC guidelines a department should have a professor, two associate professors and four assistant professors, the VC added. Further responding to the MUTA agitation demanding higher pay for paper valuation, the vice chancellor said that MSU administration had held talks with the teachers associations agitating in the issue and suggested the decentralised valuation system instead of the present centralised evaluation process, so that the expenses and time could be reduced. The VC too added that he had also agreed to increase the remuneration for paper valuation by Rs 2 for a paper from the existing payment of Rs 8.
“The decentralised valuation system would be of great help to women faculties as they need not travel long to the valuation camp and this system suggested by the vice chancellor too would help completing the valuation process within a week so that the results could be released before the students sit for the next semester,” opined a university professor, who added that he has been hopeful that the agitating members of the MUTA would accept this suggestion of the vice chancellor.
