The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has urged the Chief Minister of Manipur “to declare the results of the interview which was held in September 2021 for the appointment of 190 posts of assistant professors (145+45-ST Special Drive) for government colleges in Manipur in the light of Article 14,15, 16 and 21 of the constitution of India”.
In a memorandum, the Naga student body said it was constrained to write and submit this representation “to apprise you on behalf of the public interest concerning the inactive functioning of the government colleges due to lack of teaching staff with few lines of facts and solicits your special attention for kind perusal and consideration”.
According to the ANSAM, the Directorate of the University and Higher Education vide notification No.3/3-116/2018 dated 26-03-2021 invited to the application for appointment of suitable candidates to 145 (one hundred forty five) post of Assistant Professor on contract basis for term of one year/one academic session for the government colleges of Manipur and the details of the eligibility criteria, age limit; other eligibility conditions, scheme of examination and interview etc were all reflected in the aforesaid notification.
Thereafter, another notification dated 31-03-2021 was issued to invite application from the suitable candidate belonging to ST categories (Special Drive) for appointment to 45 of assistant professors”.
Accordingly all the eligible candidates applied for the post and the candidates for interview were shortlisted as per the fulfillment of the criteria given under UGC Regulations, 2018, it added.
“And that the interviews were conducted from September 3, 2021 to September 21, 2021 by the board of interview the Commissioner of Education, the Director of Education (U) including the subject experts and others," it added.
The ANSAM also said the recruitment process was being held in just and fair manner by the competent authority in accordance with the lawful norms and procedures. Moreover, it could be assumed that the concerned department has decided to recruit the 145+45 ST post of assistant professor based on necessity and as per the Government of Manipur vide letter No.7(2)/5/2018-HE (VAP)(pt) dated 26-03-2021, it further stated.
According to the Naga student body, while all the shortlisted candidates who have appeared the interview were eagerly waiting for the result, the directorate of Higher Education and Technical Education vide letter No.DUHE- 202/1/2021-DUHE-DU dated 25-04-2022 informed the Commissioner (Higher and Technical Education) that recruitment process for 190 posts of Assistant Professor on contract basis for the Government colleges of Manipur has been completed in November 2021 and the approval for declaration of the result was sought from the Government vide letter No.3/3116/2018UHE (Vol-VII) dated 25-11-2021.
However, the approval for declaration of the result has not been given by the government till date, it also said.
Further, the directorate of University and Higher Education updated that about 250 more new vacant posts of assistant professor have come up in the government colleges of Manipur. Thus, altogether the total number of vacant posts of teaching staff in the government college of Manipur is about 440 at present which have created a big shortage of teaching staff in the government colleges, the ANSAM said.
However, to all surprise and shocking, the Directorate of University and Higher Education stated in the aforesaid letter dated 25-04-2022 that Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) were not functional when the decision for recruitment of 190 post of teaching staff on contract basis was taken but now the MPSC has become functional now and further informing that MPSC may be assigned with the task of appointing all the vacant posts of teaching staff in the Government colleges of Manipur as the Government is not in a position to declare the result for appointment of 190 teachers on contract basis.
uch recommendation to assign the recruitment of the aforesaid post to MPSC after all the recruitment process being completed by the competent department/authority is a total mockery and shows incapability and incompetency on the part of the concerned department and the administrative department, the Naga student body said.
“Moreover, it is not permissible in the eye of law to play with the fate of all the desperate job seeker including the present shortlisted candidates who have appeared the interview held by the competent department/authority. Whereas the recruitment result for various post of Water Resources Department has been declared vide No.CE/WRD/NHP/1-8/2023-24/264 dated 23-06-2023 as well as various other department such as Health Department, Education(S), Social Welfare etc but the result of the interview for 190 Assistant Professor is still pending and deprived the candidate of their fundamental rights under Article 14,15,16 and 21 of the constitution of India,” it also added.
The ANSAM then said that even if the concerned department is inclined to recruit all the vacant post of the teaching staff of the government colleges through MPSC, it should not be clubbed together along with the previous190 posts for which the recruitment process was already completed in accordance with the notification No.3/3-116/2018 dated 26-03-2021 and dated 31-03-2021.
All the shortlisted candidates who have appeared the interview have been positively waiting for their result for almost 2 years now. “Therefore, any changes of recruitment process concerning the previous recruitment of 190 posts would gravely cause irreparable loss to all the candidates. It may be mentioned that all the candidates have given their best time and effort for the aforesaid recruitment interview. Hence, all the candidates deserved just and fair declaration of the aforesaid results instead of fresh recruitment, it also stated.
The ANSAM then mentioned that the Secretariat; Higher and Technical Education Department vide press release dated 23-06- 2022 stated that steps have been taken up as a way forward to the implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020 to fill up various in the department. Relevant portion is reproduced “ (I) Recruitment process of 190 (one hundred ninety) assistant professors for various subject on contractual basis only till the posts are regularly filled through MPSC is near completion and have been referred to the Department of Personnel as per the required procedure for declaration of result. In order to meet the shortage of teaching staff, steps have been taken up to fill 450 (four hundred fifty) Assistant professors through the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC).
Details relating to financial implications,identification/categorization of subjects, category wise reservation etc. are being worked out to place it before cabinet. In this regard, it is beg to clarified that the notification for the recruitment of 190 assistant professors (145-45-ST) were issued in pursuance of the Government of Manipur vide letter No.7(2)/5/2018-HE (VAP)(pt) dated 26-03-2021 and there were no irregularity in the recruitment process of 190 post and there is no objection from any corner including pending court case in connection with the aforesaid post.
Therefore, even if the government has the desire to recruit all the vacant posts of assistant professor through MPSC, it should not include the previous 190 post for which the recruitment process was already completed. Further, there has been a lapse of almost two years awaiting the results, it stated.
The Naga student body also said all the candidates are entitled to equal protection of law and equal treatment before the law in as much as the other department has declared their result which was recruited by their own department.
Moreover, the results for the 923 posts of graduate teachers recruitment by the Department of Education (S) which was simultaneously conducted with the present 190 posts of Assistant Professors was already declared. Further, State Medical Officers recruitment by the Directorate of Health, Government of Manipur was also already declared. However, the recruitment results of the present 190 post is still pending without assigning any reason till today, it said.
“Considering the above stated facts and circumstances, the office of the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) earnestly seeks your sincere attention for kind perusal and intervention appealing to kindly declare the results of the interview which was held in the month of September 2021 for the appointment of 190 posts of assistant professors (145+45-ST Special Drive) for the government colleges of Manipur in the light of Article 14,15, 16 and 21 of the constitution of India,” the ANSAM memorandum appealed.
Further, the ANSAM requested not to call for fresh recruitment through MPSC since the recruitment process has been completed by the competent concerned department.
