Turmoil in varsities as Centre holds back funds

Rusa scheme restricts funds until faculty numbers are met

Universities across the country are crying foul after the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (Rusa) put conditions for releasing funds.

The universities are sanctioned funds under the scheme to improve the quality of education. The universities were recently informed by the Central government that Rusa funds would not be released until they recruited enough number of faculty members.

UGC asked all universities to put fresh recruitment of teachers on hold in the month of April 2018.

This step came after a massive backlash by teachers’ unions criticising the downsizing of posts reserved for OBC and SC/STs following an Allahabad High Court order.

Rusa has already sanctioned `108 crore for Osmania University under the scheme for Enhancing Quality and Excellence in select State Universities and for faculty improvement under HRDCs. Kakaktiya University was sanctioned `50 crore under the component Research, Innovation and Quality Improvement. Telangana University and Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University were sanctioned `20 crore each under component 3, Infrastructure Grants to Universities.

OU Vice-Chancellor Professor S. Ramachandram, said they would write to RUSA again to appraise it of the UGC ordered hold on recruitment due to an ongoing case in the Supreme Court. He said “Rusa have put a condition but we are writing to RUSA because UGC has put recruitment on hold as the case is still pending in the Supreme Court. So this has become an issue in all universities across the country”. he said.

He further added “Earlier we got permission to fill 415 posts, so we are writing to them as we already have permission but UGC is coming up with new regulations and UGC says it is sub judice. The deadline to release the notification is July 15; so even the state govt is writing to them because even other universities are facing this problem. HopefullY, RUSA will consider our request’’.

Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University Vice-Chancellor, S.V. Satyanarayana, told this newspaper “Due to lack of clarification about the reservation rule in teacher recruitment in universities, we are unable to conduct teacher recruitments. We will give an assurance to the Rusa authorities that we are going to fill the posts immediately once we get clarification on the reservation rule for the teacher recruitment. By giving this assurance we will request RUSA authorities to atleast release the first installment from the sanctioned funds.’’.

He adds “If we release the notification now, we may have to face legal complications due to lack of clarity in the rule of reservation. We are awaiting the legal opinion of the government pleader as at present there is an ambiguity in implementing the rule of reservation.”