The Centre on 2nd October has invited fresh applications for the post of vice-chancellor for Jawaharlal Nehru University, almost a year after publishing the preliminary commercial for the recruitment, with a purpose to get “wider choice of selection”.
This clearly states that M Jagadesh Kumar, who is the VC for JNU will still continue in the post till any further orders, even though his tenure ended on January 26th. The fresh commercial issued by the ministry on Saturday acknowledged, “The advertisement for appointment of VC, JNU was initially published on 24.10.2020 in the leading newspapers. However, in order to have a wider choice for selection, the applications in the prescribed proforma are invited from eligible persons…Those who have applied earlier are not required to apply again. The eligible candidates need to apply by 11th October 2021 till 05.30 pm.”
“The committee had in fact shortlisted some names and letters were sent to the candidates inviting them for an interaction. However, the interaction is yet to happen. It is not possible that despite 200 applications a wider choice was not available. What was the need to invite fresh applications in the middle of the ongoing process?” stated a senior college official asking to not be named.
Further a senior training ministry official stated, “There may be some candidates who could not apply last year after falling short of the 10-year experience criteria. Since it’s been over a year since the government had advertised and the process is still underway, it would be unfair if they would not be given an opportunity to apply. The government has not provided any sort of relaxation. Even the age criteria is in accordance with last year’s ad.” A statement released on Saturday, the teacher’s association of JNU said with the “re-advertisement” the ministry was trying to give an “indefinite extension” to Mr. Jagadesh Kumar.
