Image Courtesy:thesatyashodhak.com
The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) listened to the grievances of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) regarding higher education during a public hearing at Hyderabad University (HU) on November 12, 2020, reported The Satyashodhak.
According to the President of the All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) – the organisation that raised the complaints – Kiran Kumar Gowd, it was a first-of-its-kind hearing that brought up issues about OBC teaching, non-teaching staff, students and the implementation of OBC reservation in the university.
During the meetings attended by NCBC member Achary Thalloju and the commission’s legal advisor Ramesh Vishwanathula, violation of reservations in PhD and MPhil admissions, faculty recruitment, promotions, and roster points were discussed.
“We expect that UoH admin will address the issues pertaining to PhD and MPhil admissions immediately and other policy-level decisions by the University Grants Commission and concerned ministries will also be taken,” said Gowd who is also a PhD scholar at the university.
Further, the AIOBCSA also presented a letter to Thalloju that claims central universities are leaving vacant many teaching posts allotted to OBCs while remarking that ‘none [of the candidates] found suitable’.
However, after filing a Right to Information (RTI) application, Gowd found out that only nine positions out of 313 sanctioned professor positions were filled by OBC teachers. Similarly, only 38 associate professors were given jobs out of the 735 reserved associate professor posts and 1,327 persons received jobs out of 2,232 positions for assistant professors.
The association also alleged that Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBC candidates who cleared entrance exams, were rejected in the interview round of MPhil and PhD admissions with a ‘not recommended’ remark. The seats are kept vacant with yet another ‘no suitable candidates found’ comment.
Gowd asserted that the AIOBCSA would continue their struggle to realise all their demands. The entire letter can be viewed below:
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