Lok Sabha Question No. 2406 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-31
Subject: Vacant Posts
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: INNOCENT

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2406 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2017

## Vacant Posts

## 2406. SHRI INNOCENT :

- Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  posts  lying  vacant  for  years  in  various higher  educational  institutions  in  the  country  have  not  been  filled  so  far  and  if  so,  the reasons therefor; (b) the details of the said vacant posts filled during last three years and the current year; and
- (c) the time by when all posts are likely to be filled?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Filling up of vacant posts in higher educational institutions is a continuous and ongoing process. Universities are Autonomous Bodies established under either a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act and the onus of filling up of vacant teaching posts lies with  them.  As  per  the  data  available  with  the  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC), 5,997 teaching posts out of the total teaching posts of 17,106 in various UGC funded Central  Universities  are  lying  vacant  as  on  01.04.2017.  To  ensure  regular  filling  up  of vacant posts in the Universities, the following steps have been taken:

-  The UGC has issued 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.  Para  12.2  of  the Regulations mandates that all the sanctioned / approved posts in the University system shall be filled up on an urgent basis.
-  In  order  to  meet  the  situation  arising  out  of  shortage  of  teachers  in  Universities and other teaching institutions and the consequent vacant positions therein, the age of superannuation for teachers in Central Educational Institutions has already been enhanced to sixty five years.
-  The Central Universities are permitted to recruit Ad-hoc/Guest Faculty/Reemployed/ Contract Faculty against vacant positions, from time to time, depending upon their operational requirements to the extent of 10% as per UGC regulations.
-  5 Visitor's nominees have been provided to all Central Universities for Selection Committees of teachers in order to expedite the recruitment process.
-  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.
-  UGC has requested all Vice Chancellors of Central Universities, State Universities and Deemed to be Universities to make a serious effort to ensure that all vacant positions are filled by the University at the earliest. Filling up of teaching positions has  also  been  discussed  in  the  Conference  of  Vice-Chancellors  of  the  Central Universities  held  on  4th  -5th  February,  2015,  Visitor's  Conferences  on  4th  -6 th November,  2015  and  16th  -18th  November,  2016  which  were  chaired  by  the Hon'ble President.
-  UGC  has  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.
-  Further, UGC has already 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.

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