Kumari Selja alleges now aided colleges face closure

The General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee and former Union Minister, Kumari Selja, has accused the BJP-JJP Alliance government of conspiring to shut down aided colleges in addition to government colleges in the state. Selja claims that the state government has imposed a ban on the appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff in all aided colleges, while more than 60% of assistant professor positions are already vacant in government colleges.

In a media statement, Kumari Selja revealed that the ongoing process of filling vacant positions in 97 aided colleges is being disrupted by the sudden orders from the state government to halt all recruitment processes. The permissions previously granted to colleges for filling vacant positions for assistant professors and non-teaching staff have been revoked. This abrupt decision may adversely affect the studies of over 2 lakh students in these colleges, jeopardizing academic standards and potentially reducing student enrollment.

Selja highlighted that the last recruitment for assistant professors in government colleges occurred in 2019, covering only a few subjects with 524 positions. Since 2016, vacancies in more than half of the subjects remain unfilled. Out of 8137 approved positions for assistant professors in government colleges, 4738 positions are still vacant. Despite an appeal letter sent to the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) in September 2022 to fill 1535 vacant positions, the recruitment process has faced delays due to amendments in UGC guidelines.

Selja criticized the BJP-JJP Alliance government for its failure in permanent recruitment in government colleges and accused them of creating staff shortages even in aided colleges. She urged the state government to promptly fill vacant positions in government colleges and grant aided colleges permission for regular recruitment, emphasizing the importance of securing the future of students pursuing higher education.