Recruitment controversies dog DMU
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 22 2024: Already shrouded in controversies and irregularities since its establishment as a State university, the Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) has once again landed in troubled water.

This time, students have alleged that there have been "gross irregularities and manipulations" in recruitment of teaching staff.

The Dhanamanjuri University was established as a State university by The Dhanamanjuri University Act, 2017 which came into force on April 6, 2018 .

Since then, the university has been plagued with issues that have often forced students to go on strikes.

Just a few days back, a large number of the students were agitating demanding a regular Vice Chancellor, a regular Registrar and adequate teaching and non-teaching staff.

The students were miffed at the varsity for not holding semester examinations and declaring results in time.

This time, suspecting irregularities in the results of recruitment for teaching and non-teaching staff, six student bodies have demanded constitution of an enquiry committee for swift investigation.

The student bodies including the MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK and AIMS said they want an enquiry committee to investigate and hold the responsible accountable.

Speaking to reporters at a press meet held at the AIMS office at Kwakeithel, MSF president Hijam Roshan said, "Though it is late, the Government has recently appointed a regular Registrar of the varsity and declared the results of a recruitment held for teaching and non-teaching staff in the interest of the students.

However, the results have raised suspicion of irregularities and manipulations" .

Roshan said a notice for recruitment of 88 Assistant Professors was issued on December 19, 2020 when Professor N Rajmuhon was Vice Chancellor.

The results of the recruitment except for the Department of Zoology were declared on February 29, 2024.However the results were stayed stating it did not have the authorization of the Department of Personnel, he said.

After students erupted in protest, fresh results were declared on July 18, 2024 sans that of the Departments of Botany and Physics.

When the fresh results had names of all the candidates who were selected earlier, the number of posts was increased "unannounced" by 60 more.

Further, a notice was issued calling for fresh interviews for the Departments of Botany and Physics, the results of which were not declared.

The July 18 notice mentioned "blank mark tabulation" as the reason for calling for fresh interviews, Roshan said.

"This means the original copies of the mark tabulations given by subject experts are missing or lost.

When the mark tabulations of all the other subjects are available, how come the mark tabulations of the two subjects are missing.

This is very suspicious and has raised suspicion about gross irregularities and manipulations," Roshan said.

A university losing such important documents is unacceptable.

All documents must be in the custody of the Registrar, he said, asserting the call for fresh interviews for the two Departments has victimised the candidates who were successful and got the selection as per the earlier results.

Roshan asserted that the issues plaguing the university worsened and compounded due to alleged negligence of the then Registrar.

Being a bureaucrat, she wasn't present in the university much and her negligence led to the issues facing today, Roshan alleged.

Accusing the then Registrar of shying away from her responsibility, he said, while the officer had issued a clarification on July 14 stating the previous results of the recruitment would not stand, she didn't attend a syndicate meeting held regarding the clarification.

She must clarify why she didn't attend the meeting, Roshan said.

Further, the unannounced increase in the number of posts by 60 more is unacceptable, and it lacks transparency and clarity, he said.

On what ratio the additional posts have been added and the reservation system followed are not mentioned and known, he said.

The recruitment was held based on a notice issued in the year 2020.Between 2020 and 2024, there have emerged many new potential candidates who have cleared NET, JRF and hold PhD.

The recruitment of the additional 60 additional posts without holding fresh recruitment has deprived the potential candidates of their rights and opportunity.

The former VC and then Registrar must issue clarification on this, he said.

"The direction in which the State's education system is going is uncertain and there is a trend of authorities doing whatever suits them.

Is the Education Minister taking action against this or is he also involved in this conspiracy?" Roshan asked.

The Education Minister mustn't remain silent on this.

He must take action and issue a clarification to the public on the issues that are plaguing the Dhanamanjuri University, Roshan added.

Comment