UGC asks universities to postpone recruitment process

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a communication to all universities and Higher Education Institutions to postpone the recruitment process till the Supreme Court issues its verdict on the Special Leave Petition filed by the HRD Ministry against a court order curtailing reservation for SC/ST and OBCs candidates.

The UGC had announced in March that an individual department should be considered as the base unit, not institution-wise, to calculate the number of teaching posts to be reserved for Scheduled Caste



and Scheduled Tribe candidates.

The UGC had taken the decision following an order of the Allahabad High Court and upheld by the Supreme Court.

However, after protest against the move, the HRD Ministry and the UGC filed the Special Leave Petition to withdraw the order and asked the educational institutions not to hire any faculty member using the new formula.

The apex court is expected to hear a Review Petition by the government on the issue soon.