Basant Kumar MohantyNew Delhi: A high-level panel has asked the Centre to put on hold a change in a norm for recruiting faculty in public-funded universities and colleges that had triggered an outcry among the disadvantaged sections. Based on a 2017 judgment by Allahabad High Court, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had recently said faculty reservations should be implemented department-wise rather than the entire university being counted as a single unit, as was done earlier. The new policy would have hurt the reserved category candidates, particularly in departments that do not have too many posts. If only five posts are vacant in a department, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe aspirants may not get the reservation. In case the review petition fails, the government should opt for a constitutional amendment to provide for the institution-wise reservation policy, he said.

Source: The Telegraph March 19, 2018 21:11 UTC