Punjab Government Seeks Supreme Court's Reconsideration of Appointment Quashing Order

Strategic Insights -

The Punjab government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court to revisit its July 14 order, which quashed the appointment of 1,158 assistant professors and librarians in state-run colleges in 2021. The government is seeking permission for the appointed assistant professors to continue their services on a temporary basis until a fresh recruitment process is completed. The move comes as the recruitees, who are facing the prospect of unemployment, demand "complete justice" instead of a mere modification of the order.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court had quashed the appointment of 1,158 assistant professors and librarians on July 14, directing the Punjab government to initiate a fresh recruitment process as per the 2018 UGC regulations.
  • The Punjab government has moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of its order, allowing the appointed assistant professors to continue their services temporarily.
  • The aspirants, who were recruited in 2021, have demanded "complete justice" instead of a mere modification of the order, alleging system failure and merit-based selection process irregularities.
  • The recruitment process was marred by controversies, including allegations of irregularities in the merit-based selection process and the government's failure to follow UGC guidelines.
  • The case has a long history, dating back to October 2021, when the Punjab Director of Higher Education issued a public notice inviting online applications for assistant professor and librarian posts.

Statistics:

  • 1,158 assistant professors and librarians were appointed in 2021.
  • The Supreme Court quashed their appointments on July 14.
  • The Punjab government has sought permission to allow the appointed assistant professors to continue their services on a temporary basis.
  • 67 librarians were also appointed in 2021.
  • The case has been ongoing since October 2021, with multiple twists and turns, including thePB government's failure to follow UGC guidelines and irregularities in the recruitment process.

Sources:

  • The Indian Express (P) Ltd
  • IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd.
  • Contify.com