[Reader-list] Victims of UGC Regulation 2006 crying for social and natural justice. UGC `apathy’ dims future prospects of unfortunate those victims.

[mprabhakar prabhakar]

   Victims of UGC Regulation 2006 crying for social and natural justice. UGC `apathy’ dims future prospects of unfortunate those victims.
   
  Scores of Temporary Management Staff / adhoc Lecturers working in aided / Govt., (also self financing) colleges on poorly and hourly pay basis awaiting their M.Phil exams (as they have registered as M.Phil scholars from Jan.2006 onwards only after having come to know about constitution of Dr.Mungekar NET Review committee on 14th Nov. 2005) are sore over the continued ``APATHY'' of the University Grants Commission towards their plea for providing small time limit upto 31-06-2007 to clear their M.Phil program to be eligible for appointment as lecturers in reular vacancies in colleges and universities. It is noteworthy to mention that equally unqualified NET failed M.Phil holders were declared as qualified on 14-06-2006 by UGC Regulation 2006 upon interim recommendations by problem solving exercise of NET Review committee.
   
  
  As the various State Governments have announced filing of regular lecturer post vacancies, the application by these unfortunate teachers have been already rejected for want of M.Phil and is bound to be rejected for left out vacancies until they clear their M.Phil program. It is irony that even less experienced equally unqualified (until 14-06-2006) M.Phil holders are getting appointed where as unfortunate teachers who regularly kept attempting the only obligatory NET are mercilessly shown the exit door inspite of more than 5 years of experience.
   
  
  These unfortunate teachers have been fighting for the past 8 months ( from 16th May 2006 when the Hon’ble UGC Chairperson first time accepted in principle NET relaxation then later made official as UGC Reulation 2006 on 14-06-2006)over the issue of discriminatory NET relaxation (which was introduced in 1991 later relaxed for upto 1993 M.Phil and Ph.D holders only) for M.Phil and Ph.D holders but kept the same mandatory for post graduates upon interim recommendations of NET Review committee - a problem solving exercise. Remember until 14-06-2006 M.Phil after 1993 was not mandatory and considerd as a mere pay incremental element only, that too if appointed on regular vacancy.
   
  
  The inconsistency in Qualification policy seem to have become a common practice by UGC. Rightly reported in News reports as a commission of ommission or Useless Governing Commission. Earlier the Ph.D scholars kept fighting in vain for the 2 years over a similar U turn by the UGC, through a directive in April 2000, when it withdrew its own earlier notification, which allowed the universities to exercise their discretion on granting exemption to Ph.D degree holders from NET or SLET for being eligible to be appointed as lecturers.
   
  
  Then such UGC's move was widely seen as a retrograde step as it would ``devalue'' the Ph.D degree and ``discourage serious research.'' Research scholars then complained that the UGC's stand on the issue has been ``inconsistent.'' The affected scholars had sigh of relief only when Calcutta High Court quashed the UGC’s subsequent withdrawl of exemption notification.
   
  
  The UGC, through a notification in September 1991, made it obligatory for candidates to clear NET or SLET to become eligible to apply for the post of lecturers.
   
  
  Through subsequent notifications, candidates who submitted their Ph.D thesis or passed M.Phil examinations in the subjects concerned before December 31, 1993, were exempted from the norm.
   
  
  In December 1998, the UGC stated it would be optional for universities to exempt Ph.D degree holding candidates from having to clear NET. But the same facility was not extended for M.Phil. Such an attitude of UGC did not enthuse the future teacher aspirants to go for non mandatory M.Phil but compelled them to get seriously inclined towards clearing mandatory NET. This inclination has costed them dearly leading to loss of a life time chance because by the time they get qualify all the vacancies will be filled up.
   
  
  The December 1998 regulation was withdrawn by UGC through the April, 2000 notification. It stated that any relaxation in the prescribed qualifications could only be made by the UGC in a particular subject in which NET was not being conducted or enough number of candidates were not available with NET qualification for a specified period only.
   
  
  Later the the thread of exemption story continued in Aug 2004 when it was made more stringent. An official communication F, 1-1/2003(PS) Meeting signed by then Under secretary Mrs.Shashi Munjal sent to Registrars of all universities and Education Secretaries dated Dec 9, 2004 provided that the commission at its meeting held on 13th Aug, 2004 considered the recommendations of the Exemption Committee and approved and decided that NET Exemption is not allowed hereinafter and candidates must clear NET for lecturership, however exemption may be granted in view of clearly spelt out circumstances that no NET exam is conducted in the subject or qualified candidates are not available when proper selection interviews were held. Moreover such candidate should not be appointed unless prior approval in prescribed form is obtained from UGC and appointed candidate should clear the NET within a period of two years. The letter clearly spelt that appointment letter shall not be issued
 until relaxation letter is obtained from UGC. On seeing such a circular any rational human-being will conclude that NET clearance as the only solution to enter teaching profession. Barely in next 20 months creeped scrapping of NET through UGC Regulation 2006.
   
  
  In this complete qualification exemption story exihibiting many controversies, U turns and inconsistency, no one would have wondered that M.Phil will become a qualification in June 2006 bypassing and relaxing mandatory NET. Now when finally decided to grant M.Phil holders the status of Qualification, why the same is denied to Teacher cum M.Phil scholars - a group for whose creation the negative credit goes only to UGC and the responsibility lies solely on inconsistent policies on qualification criteria. One should not be surprised if UGC takes yet another U turn, again restoring NET as only mandatory for teacher qualification dumping M.Phil and Ph.D once again as pay incremental element, more so still awaiting final report from Review committee.
   
  
  Such ``inconsistent'' notifications have resulted in needless discrimination against regular teacher aspirants currently working as management staff / adhoc teachers on hourly basis (performing the role of regular UGC pay scale lecturer) whose position is no way better than casual laborers. Hundreds of such temporary teachers are pursuing M.Phil Program and their employment prospects have been adversely affected due to the UGC's latest of many discriminatory direction.
   
  
  Employment opportunities in Tamilnadu as now existing by phase 1 and as expected by phase 2 if once get exhausted will result in more pitiable and worst situation for these poor teachers and also for their dependant families. If these opportunities were made difficult for them, it would adversely affect their career.
   
  
  The lack of consistency over the issue has caused much damage, confusion and resulted in exclusion of these teachers in academic, social and economic society. The issue needs an urgent solution as current developments in Tamilnadu indicate towards recommencing of selection process as per Court direction not only in Govt., colleges but also in aided colleges as discrepancies noted in selection process in appointments already made (awaiting approval) in the colleges affilited to universities in the state.

 				
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