Teachers of College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences today asked the government to immediately fill the vacant posts, saying a threat of the institution's derecognition by the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) looms large due to extreme shortage of staff.
The VCI, after an inspection, had highlighted shortage of staff and asked the CSK Agriculture University under which the college functions to fill the vacant posts before the start of next academic session.
"The VCI has asked the varsity administration to fill the vacancies in the college before the start of next academic session, lest it would disallow admissions to the five-year degree course in Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry," President of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Teachers Association (VASTA) Subhash Verma said.
He said the VCI can even derecognise the college, jeopardising the future of the students.
VASTA General Secretary Ankur Sharma said they had been pressing for filling up of vacant posts but the varsity administration "paid no heed", with the result that out of 84 sanctioned posts, 38 are lying vacant.
"No steps have been taken (by the university administration) and the situation has reached a point that threat of derecognition of the college looms large. Earlier, the VCI had acted tough with some other colleges also," Sharma said.
During an inspection it was found that against the sanctioned strength of 84 teachers, only 46 wererunning 18 departments of the 30-year-old college.
They had been teaching undergraduate and post-graduate students, doing research and extension work and also providing services at the multi-specialty clinic (Animal PGI) 24X7, he added.
As per VCI norms, 117 teachers are required for these jobs, the VASTA president said, adding that it is the only veterinary college in Himachal Pradesh whichhas a good ranking in the country.
