HRD Ministry mulls bringing faculty reservation ordinance in two weeks

UGC in October last year had issued rules and had made reservation applicable at the department level instead of at the university level

The ministry of Human Resource Development is likely to come up with an ordinance in the next two weeks to restore the reservation policy in the appointment of teaching staff at universities, reported Livemint.

Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar last week had said that the ministry was preparing to take action on the issue of faculty reservation.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) in October last year had issued guidelines/rules and had made reservation applicable at the department level instead of at the university level. Professors across universities and critics all over the country had criticised the UGC move, arguing it will deprive many candidates of reserved category of jobs.

According to the Livemint report, the HRD ministry is awaiting the hearing of the special leave petition (SPL) on the issue of faculty reservation in the Supreme Court. Quoting a source, the report said that the hearing on the matter is likely to be held by the end of the month and the ministry may go for an ordinance route if there is any delay.

There are more than 6,000 vacancies at central universities and unless reservation rules are finalised, it will not be possible to fill up the posts, said HRD ministry.