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The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has been reluctant to fill in vacancies for 270 posts for full-time professors despite much hue and cry. Many departments in the prestigious educational institute are unable to operate efficiently, citing a lack of professors. In a fresh blow, SPPU has received alarmingly low scores in recent National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ratings. Now, the SPPU administration has had a rude awakening.

In order to resolve the issue, the varsity has decided to hire 130 professors, albeit on a yearlong contract basis. However, the move is unlikely to sew up a severe staff crunch as 140 vacant posts are still to be filled. It has been revealed that the salary of the part-time staffers will be borne from the university funds.

The move has not gone down well with qualified aspirant professors, who have demanded that all colleges should appoint full-time professors instead of on short-term contracts.

Suresh Dabhade Patil, state coordinator of NETSET-PhD Dharak Sangharsh Samiti, said, “We demand the appointment of full-time professors on a regular basis. The University Grants Commission (UGC) had released five circulars regarding 100 per cent recruitment for the post of professors in all colleges and universities. However, all public universities and affiliated college managements have overlooked that direction.”

Reacting to SPPU’s makeshift appointments, Dabhade Patil noted that the move would hamper the quality of education at varsity departments.

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“There are 33,000 vacant posts in the state, but only 11,000 professors are on the payroll. Dr Dhanraj Mane’s committee had recommended hiring educators on a clock-hour basis (CHB) in 2021, however, there has been little progress over that. SPPU’s reluctance to hire full-time professors is frustrating,” he noted.

On the condition of anonymity, one of the professors on CHB in SPPU, said, “The decision to recruit 130 professors has been influenced by a few management council members. They have put pressure on SPPU vice-chancellor (VC) Karbhari Kale to appoint professors in all departments.”

“SPPU’s financial condition is dwindling, and yet, they are hiring around 250 aspirants. Funds for their salaries will be withdrawn from university funds, which consist of student fees. It will indirectly affect fee structures. I suspect the move will open doors for direct rehabilitation of fulltime workers of a political party and right-wing organisations as professors,” he added.

SP Lawande, president of Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (MFUCTO), said, “The appointment of professors on a contract basis is not a final solution. Why is the state government not permitting the appointment of full-time professors all over the state? This decision is only a temporary settlement. We demand an immediate decision on full-time professor recruitment.”

Dr Dhanraj Mane, director of higher education and chairman of the CHB committee, said, “Former higher and technical education minister Uday Samant had established a four-member committee on professor recruitment and pay fixation of CHB professors. We recommended ‘same work same wage’ for all. We tabled our committee report before the state government in August 2021. I will not comment on further procedure.”

Speaking to Mirror, Kale said, “We got low ranking due to vacant posts in all departments. So a plan has been prepared for the recruitment of professors. Around 130 posts will be filled on a contract basis till September 5. Apart from this, 140 posts of the remaining professors were also filled. Permanent professors will also be appointed on a self-financed basis.”

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