Lok Sabha Question No. 4176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-12
Subject: Vacancies in Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4176 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2016

## Vacancies in Universities

## 4176.   DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA: SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of sanctioned and vacant posts of lecturers in the Central Universities in the country including in the State of Rajasthan;
- (b) whether many posts of Vice-Chancellors, Professors and faculties have been lying vacant in the central universities in the country for a long time;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether a large number of the said vacancies have arisen due to opting of deputations by the faculties;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps being taken to fill up the said vacant posts in Central Universities?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

- (a):  Out of the total number of sanctioned teaching posts of 17006 (2407 Professor, 4789 Associate Professor,  9810  Assistant  Professor),    in  40  Central  Universities  (CUs)  under  the  purview  of  the University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  including  Central  University  of  Rajasthan,  6080  teaching posts (1308 Professor, 2230 Associate Professor, 2542 Assistant Professor)  are lying vacant as on 1.10.2016.
- (b) & (c): At  present,  out  of  40  Central  Universities  under  the  purview  of  UGC,  the following posts of Vice-Chancellor  are lying vacant:-

|   S.No. | Name of the Central University   | Date of vacancy   |
|---------|----------------------------------|-------------------|
|       1 | Visva Bharati                    | 16.02.2016        |
|       2 | Mizoram University               | 18.05.2016        |
|       3 | Pondicherry University           | 04.07.2016        |
|       4 | Nagaland University              | 07.09.2016        |

All the above posts of Vice Chancellor have been advertised and applications received. Search-cumSelection Committee has been constituted for providing a panel for the post of Vice Chancellor in Nagaland University.

- (d) & (e): Vacancies  at  various  levels  are  caused  by  dynamic  process  attribute,  inter-alia,  to retirements, resignations, deaths, deputations, expansion and opening of new institutions and such data of occurrence of vacancies is not centrally maintained.

(f) : The Central Universities are autonomous bodies created under the Acts of Parliament and the onus of filling up the vacant posts including teaching posts lies on them. The incidence and filling up of vacancies in CUs is an ongoing and continuous process.

Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  (MHRD) and UGC have written many times to the CUs  to  fill  up  the  vacancies  and  also  continuously  monitor  it  with  them.    It  was  discussed  in meetings with Vice Chancellors of Central Universities on 18 th February, 2016 and 6 th October, 2016.   Filling up of teaching positions was also discussed in the Conference of Vice-Chancellors of  the  Central  Universities  held  on  4 th -  5 th February,  2015,  Visitor's  Conferences  on  4 th -6 th November, 2015 and 16 th -18 th November, 2016 which were chaired by the Hon'ble President. All Vice  Chancellors  of  Central  Universities  have  agreed  to  fill  up  the  vacant  teaching  posts  on priority basis.

Besides above, the following steps have also been taken to fill up the vacancies:

- (i) There  is  no  ban  on  filling  up  of      teaching  posts.  UGC  Regulations  on  Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges  and  Measures  for  the  maintenance  of  standards  in  Higher  Education  2010 envisages that all the sanctioned / approved posts in the university system shall be filled up on an urgent basis.
- (ii) 5  Visitor's  nominees  provided  to  all  Central  Universities  for  Selection  Committees  of teachers in order to expedite the recruitment process.
- (iii) In  order  to  meet  the  situation  arising  out  of  shortage  of  teachers  in  universities  and  the consequent vacant positions, the age of superannuation for teachers in Central Educational Institutions has already been enhanced to sixty five years.
- (iv) Teachers can also be re-employed on contract appointment beyond the age of sixty five years upto the age of seventy years, subject to availability of vacant positions and fitness.
- (v) UGC initiated a scheme called Operation Faculty Recharge for augmenting the research and  teaching  resources  of  universities  to  tackle  the  shortage  of  faculty  in  university system.
- (vi) UGC also framed the guidelines for empanelment of Adjunct Faculty in Universities and Colleges.  These  guidelines  enable  higher  educational  institutions  to  access  the  eminent teachers and researchers who have completed their formal association with the University/College,  to  participate  in  teaching,  to  collaborate  and  to  stimulate  research activities  for  quality  research  at  M.  Phil  and  Ph.D.  levels;  and  to  play  mentoring  and inspirational role.

With  the  appointment  of  regular  Vice  Chancellors  and  providing  of  Visitor's  nominees  to  all Central  Universities  for  Selection  Committees  for  teachers,  the  process  of  filling  up  of  vacant teaching posts has gathered momentum.

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