KPSC selection process draws flak

The Federation of Karnataka State Universities’ post-graduates has taken serious exception to the Karnataka Public Service Commission’s process of selecting lecturers for government first grade colleges. Federation convener I B Biradar said the process followed by KPSC had caused injustice to the meritorious, regular students from the state and had accommodated students from outside Karnataka who have degrees from institutions providing distance education.

He said the provisional list of selected candidates contained the names of those who had not obtained M Phil from any recognised University and did not have five year’s experience as lecturers as stipulated by UGC. He pointed out that the state government in its circular issued on 7 November 2008 had stated that the out of state universities had not taken Karnataka government’s permission to run distant education courses and questioned the wisdom of KPSC in recognizing the candidates having degrees from these universities for selection.

 

Biradar also sought to know the method of allotting marks to candidates in the viva-voce. “The gold medalists and rank holders with regular PhDôM Phil degree from the state universities have been given just 2-3 marks out of 14 in the interview while those from outside Karnataka have secured 12-13 marks. What is the criterion for allotting marks?” he asked. He also questioned the KPSC’s logic behind not considering the candidate’s performance in NET and SLET and said the Universities in the state were giving weightage to those who had passed NETLET.

The Federation had demanded that the process of selection should be stopped and priority should be given to the candidates securing degrees from Universities in Karnataka. He also demanded action against unauthorised institutions providing distant education and degrees and alleged that the provisional list had majority of the candidates from South Karnataka and it was a clear case of regional disparity.

Biradar urged the government to take necessary action and provide justice to the aggrieved candidates. He threatened to launch a statewide stir if the government did not heed to the demands.