SRINAGAR: Amid allegations of favoritism, Kashmir University (KU) has postponed the scheduled interviews for Assistant Professor (AP) positions, just hours before they were set to take place.
The interviews, initially scheduled from November 11 to November 14, 2024, were postponed due to “administrative issues,” according to an official notification issued late on Sunday evening by the Deputy Registrar of Recruitment at Kashmir University.
“Due to administrative issues, it is hereby informed to all concerned candidates that the interviews, which were scheduled from 11th to 14th November 2024, for the posts of Assistant Professor advertised vide Notice No. 13 of 2023 dated 19-12-2023, have been postponed until further notification,” the notification reads, with an apology: “We regret the inconvenience caused.”
The decision to delay the interviews comes amid growing concerns from applicants, who had already raised issues about the timing of the process.
On November 7, a group of Assistant Professor applicants according to news agency Kashmir Dot Com, had appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urging them to immediately halt the interviews, citing fears of favoritism as the Vice Chancellor’s tenure nears its end.
A delegation of the applicants voiced their concern, questioning the ethics of holding interviews so close to the end of the Vice Chancellor’s term.
“These interviews should have been conducted much earlier,” the applicants stated. “Since the VC’s tenure is now coming to an end, it is both unethical and illegal to conduct interviews at this juncture.”
The candidates also expressed concerns over the potential for favoritism, alleging that the interviews were hastily arranged to benefit certain individuals with connections in bureaucratic circles.
“We fear that these interviews have been expedited to favor a few blue-eyed candidates,” they said, urging transparency in the recruitment process. “No previous VC has conducted interviews at the fag end of their tenure, making this situation highly suspicious.”
The applicants have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister to intervene and halt the interview process, seeking a more transparent and fair recruitment procedure. They have also planned to meet local legislators to raise the issue in the upcoming Assembly session.
With the interviews now postponed, the controversy surrounding the recruitment process continues to simmer, with many awaiting further clarity on the matter. (KDC)