Quality Education: MPSC (December 16)
Recommended Lecturers Vs Part-timers
By S.Brajamani Singh

The MPSC recommended College lecturers' association has been on relay hunger strike since November 29, 2001. They claim to possess all the qualification laid down by UGC and they were recommended by MPSC after a written test and viva voice. Their grievance is that instead of giving them appointment the government illegally regularized 107 unqualified part -time lecturers through the back door. They are demanding quality appointment for Quality Education in Manipur (Sangai Express, 22nd Nov' 2001). 

Here the question arises - are all the part -time lecturers unqualified? Did all of them enter illegally through the back door? And, are the MPSC recommended candidate the only qualified ones?

The government of Manipur started appointing part-time lecturers since 1990 in order to meet the increasing demands of teachers in the government colleges. By 1997 the number of part - time lecturers crossed 600 marks. These part-time lecturers were appointed in three different phases-
(i) Those appointed between 1990 and 1995 after proper advertisement,
(ii) Those appointed in 1995 after proper advertisement, written test and viva voice and those similar to them,
(iii) Those appointed in 1997. There was a time when MPSC was defunct for a long time but demand for teachers greatly increased. At the same time there was severe financial crunch in the state. All these necessitated appointment of part-time lecturers. There are many among the part-time lecturers also who possess Ph. D, M.Phil. degrees, and also who are NET/JRF certificate holders, the latest RRs for college lecturers. |For a minimal pay of Rs.2000 (since January 1998) the part-time lecturers are discharging the same amount of workload as a regular lecturer. Besides, they are also not allowed to work anywhere else for which they are made to sign an undertaking.

The government of Manipur recognizing the service of the part-time lecturers and their contribution to higher education framed a state policy for part-time lecturers and regularized 108 part-time lecturers (including one of law college) in August 2000. These 108 part-time lecturers posses relevant initial qualification of UGC at the time of their initial appointment. It is pertinent to mention here that the UGC RRs of 1991 came into force in Manipur only in 1997 (Vide No. 1/ 10 /67 - RR / DP (pt) Dated 15th January 1997). As late as 1998, when MPSC made advertisement for appointment of lecturers it was so done under the old RRs of 1989 (Vide. No. 7/32/97-MPSC (DR)). At the same time the conversion of Chandel College and Tamenglong College in 1995 was done under the old RRs. As such, no problem will arise in the regularization of part-time lecturers who fulfill the RRs existing at the time of their initial appointment.

The latest RRs published by UGC also clearly mentions such a provision - "provided further that these regulations shall not applicable to such requisite minimum qualifications as were existing at that time through a duly constituted selection committee for making appointment to a teaching post have been made prior to the enforcement of these regulations [vide UGC notification no. F.3-1] 2001 (PS) March 2000.

Had the government terminated the part-time lecturers after every six months the present impasse would not have arisen. Unfortunately, that did not happen and now the part-timers have started demanding their rights. It is very much clear from the part-time policy that all the part-time lecturers will not be regularized. No one needs fear on that front. The policy says "A part-timer who does not fulfill the RRs existing at the time of their initial appointment or the RRs in force now shall be terminated forthwith from service; provided that the requirement for passing NET/equivalent may be relaxed for appointment as part-time lecturers till sufficient number of eligible candidates are available for appointment as lecturers / part-time lecturer or for a period of 5 years, whichever is earlier (vide government of Manipur, DP. office Memorandum no. 1/68/99- part-time /DP Dated 17th Nov. 1999).

On the other hand, let us look into the mode of selections for the MPSC recommended candidates. The UGC notice no. F.3-1/3000(PS) clearly mentions the compositions of the selections committee for recruitment of lecturers in the government colleges "For Govt. Colleges, the state Public Service Commission must invite three subject experts for which the state Public Service Commission will involve the University in the selection. The Principal and the Head of department should be necessarily included in the Committee. The quorum of the committee should be five of which at least two must be from out of the three subject experts". 

The selection procedure of lecturers conducted by the MPSC in 2000 completely flouted these UGC rules. The committee consisted of only 4 members viz the MPSC chairman, Govt. nominee and two subject experts only. This proves that the committee lacked the necessary quorum and thus cannot be the sustainable in the eyes of the laws. No principals were invited by the committee. Most important of all, the MPSC did not have any member at that time and it was a one-man show of the chairman from the beginning to the end.

There has been an attempt by the MPSC recommended candidates to mislead the general public that they were selected after a well contested written test. The fact is there wasn't any written test. They were recommended after 5/6 minutes of interview by the selection committee presided over by the one man MPSC.

The scandal involving MPSC in the selection of MCS/MPS for the second time in a row is a vivid example of the fine job that has done for the people of Manipur.

The MPSC recommended lectures does not want the regularization of the part-time lecturers. As such they are trying hard to make the part-time lecturers look like untouchables in the eyes of the public. But they will not succeed as the students and the general public knows the immense contribution made by the part-time lecturers. On the other hand MPSC didn't follow the UGC guidelines while selecting the candidates. 

There are many part-time lecturers among the MPSC recommended candidates and for them calling the part-time lecturers names are insulting their own selves. If the part-time lecturers who possess the requisite UGC qualification at the time of their initial appointment cannot be regularized then MPSC recommended candidates also needn't be given appointment as MPSC flouted the UGC norms while selecting them. Mudslinging, calling names, accusing one another and taking sides cannot bring quality education in Manipur. The matter is in court and let the court decide who is right and who is wrong.

(Courtesy: The Imphal Free Press)

Back to Top