DU's permanent appointments only 'interim'

NEW DELHI: There''s both good news and bad news for DU colleges. First, the good news. After two years of no permanent appointments of teachers across colleges, things are finally set to change. The bad news? The arrangement is only ''interim''.
A letter was sent by the University to all colleges on Monday stating that they can make permanent appointments of teachers against vacancies.
The letter also mentions the maximum number of permanent teachers that a college can have. The letter states that the UGC in consultation with the DU vice-chancellor has allowed colleges to make permanent appointments.
According to DU''s dean of colleges Kiran Dattar, a ''considerable number'' of permanent appointments will be made in view of the order. University officials say that the number may be as high as 500 across all DU colleges.
Here comes the catch. This ''interim'' arrangement will hold good, according to the letter, only till the Anandkrishna Committee submits its report about the formulation of workload norms for DU colleges.
The committee is review-ing and formulating fresh norms regarding the necessary staff strength of colleges and workload of teachers at DU.
What if the committee''s report does not spell good news for the University in terms of sanctioned staff strength?
"We still have to check that with the University. However, allowing permanent appointments is a welcome move," said Ramjas College principal Rajender Prasad.
"In case the committee reports says that a particular college can have only 150 permanent teachers but based on their current vacancy status that college takes its permanent teacher strength to 155 now. What will happen to the extra five then?" said a DU official.
Even if colleges begin the appointment procedure in earnest, it will take at least two to three months before appointments are finalised.
Sri Venkateswara College principal A S Reddy, however, was more positive about it.
"The Anandkrishna Committee report should be out within a month or so. That should save us the trouble of contradictions," he said while welcoming the move.