HC: Follow UGC norms to recruit guest lecturers

HC: Follow UGC norms to recruit guest lecturers 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  26.09.2024 

Bengaluru : The high court directed the departments of higher education and collegiate education to ensure complete compliance with the minimum qualifications prescribed by University Grants Commission (UGC) before selecting candidates for posts of guest lecturers. Justice R Nataraj gave the direction while partly allowing a petition filed by aspiring guest lecturer H Sanjeevaiah and three others. 

The petitioners had challenged an Aug 24 notification issued for recruiting guest lecturers without insisting on Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET), State Eligibility Test (SET), National Eligibility Test (NET) or PhD examinations, on the ground that it is contrary to UGC regulations. Rajendra Kumar Sungay, counsel for the petitioners, submitted that as per UGC regulations, the qualification prescribed is the same for regular and contract appointments. He added that the authorities have been processing the applications of candidates who possess a mere PG qualification and factoring in the weightage for the previous years of service, depriving opportunity to candidates such as the petitioners. 

The govt advocate submitted that since the petitioners challenged the notification, which pertains to engaging guest faculty in govt first grade colleges in the state, they have to approach Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal. Justice Nataraj said UGC regulations prescribe that the minimum qualification should be fulfilled for contractual lecturers too. However, the marks prescribed for past service for a maximum period of 16 years at the rate of 3 marks shall continue to be applied. “It is also made clear that the respondents shall not select candidates by placing a condition that they shall obtain the requisite qualification, namely NET/SLET/SET, before Jan 13, 2025, unless he/she is awarded a doctorate or is registered for a doctoral programme prior to July 2009,” the judge said.