Plea in HC against change of criteria for teachers posts by JNU after advertising them
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought Jawaharlal Nehru University's response on a plea challenging the varsity's decision to change selection criteria for vacant teaching positions in its Centre for Historical Studies (CHS) after the posts were advertised.
While issuing notice to JNU seeking its stand on the petition, Justice A K Chawla directed the varsity not to fill the advertised vacancies till the next date of hearing on May 6.
The plea was moved by two professors of CHS, Sucheta Mahajan and Mahalakshmi Ramakrishnan, who contended that the varsity "illegally and unilaterally altered the selection criteria for the posts of assistant professor in CHS during the selection process".
The petitioners said that the varsity, represented by central government standing counsel Monika Arora and advocate Harsh Ahuja, also shortlisted candidates for the posts based on the new criteria.
The petition sought quashing of the list of candidates shortlisted on the basis of the new "diluted criteria" and the interviews conducted thereafter.
It contended that JNU, after advertising the posts along with the requisite qualifications, decided to "dilute" the criteria during the selection process by asking the screening committee to remove the need for specialisations.
The petition has claimed that by removing the requirement of specialisation, the varsity has rendered the posts as "open posts" for which someone with a Master's degree can also apply.
It said that interviews of the illegally shortlisted candidates were carried out on February 11-12, but no appointments have been made.
"It is submitted that the respondents (JNU, its recruitment cell and internal quality assessment cell) have acted in total contravention of the JNU Act, statutes, ordinances and UGC regulations on minimum qualification for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges," the petition claimed.
It also alleged that "in addition to illegality committed by the respondents, it is also pertinent to mention that the removal of the specialisation requirement in the criteria results in the dilution of academic, teaching and research standards within the centre".
According to the petition, in the advertisement, the selection criteria contained an additional requirement of a PhD in the specialisation concerned, which was done away with subsequently after selection process had commenced.
The petition contended that the vacant posts were advertised with specific specialisations as certain faculty members from those specialisations had retired.
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Not scared of expulsion from BJP, says ex Deputy CM Eshwarappa
Shivamogga (PTI): Former Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday said he is not scared of expulsion from the BJP as he reiterated his resolve to contest the Lok Sabha elections as an independent with full vigour.
He said his expulsion was on the expected lines.
BJP on Monday expelled Eshwarappa for six years for violating party discipline, and contesting Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate.
"Ignoring the party's directions, you are contesting as a rebel candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, causing embarrassment to the party. This is violation of party discipline," state disciplinary committee president Lingaraj Patil said in the expulsion order.
It said, "so, you have been relieved from all the responsibilities and have been expelled from the party for six years, with immediate effect."
Eshwarappa has remained steadfast on his decision to contest, spurning efforts by party leaders to pacify him.
The paty's decision to expel the former Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, came on the last day for withdrawal of candidature for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka on May seven.
Eshwarappa along with Yediyurappa and late H N Ananth Kumar is widely credited with building the BJP from the grassroots in Karnataka.
Ahead of the Assembly polls last year, opting out of the contest, he had asked the party's central leadership that he wished to retire from electoral politics and requested it to not consider fielding him from any constituency.
Modi had then dialled Eshwarappa and spoke to him over a video call and expressed appreciation for his move to retire from poll politics, as per the instructions from the party.
"I have not received any communication from the party regarding my expulsion. The fact is that I was wondering why I was not expelled yet," Eshwarappa told reporters here on Tuesday, in an apparent sarcastic note.
He said, "I will not be scared of expulsion. My contesting is clear, winning from Shivamogga (Shimoga Lok Sabha seat) is clear and strengthing (the hands of) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also clear," the 75-year-old said.
He added that he has been allotted election symbol of "farmer with sugarcane", which indicates blessings for him from the farmers of his constituency.
Eshwarappa was eyeing a ticket for his son K E Kantesh from neighbouring Haveri constituency.
After the denial of ticket, Eshwarappa rebelled against former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and BJP's Parliamentary Board member accusing him of scuttling his son's political prospects.
Targeting Yediyurppa and his two sons -- B Y Raghavendra who is contesting the election on BJP ticket from Shivamogga and B Y Vijayendra, BJP state president and Shikaripura MLA, Eshwarappa said BJP has turned into a 'Father-Son' party in Karnataka with nepotism galore.
