BBAU VC and registrar summoned by Scheduled Caste Commission for irregularity in hiring

Lucknow: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has summoned Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University vice chancellor RC Sobti and registrar Sunita Chandra on Thursday to explain allegations of irregular recruitments in the university and ‘unfair’ treatment of students, teachers and employees belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category.

Chairman NCSC, Prof RS Katheria, will seek explanations from the two university authorities for the alleged irregularities in appointments and non-implementation of the roster policy on campus. Allegations have also been made that unfair practices were adopted for screening of candidates.

The NCSC chairman summoned the university authorities on the complaint of Sadhvi Savitri Bai Phule, member of parliament (MP) from Bahraich. They were asked to come with documents, records and papers related to the reservation and roster policy for the appointment of teaching staff.

Phule, in her letter, made allegations of corruption on campus. She also said that a BBAU professor and his office assistant had been caught red handed by CBI’s anti-corruption wing on charges of bribery on June 2. The MP has also questioned the VCs role in the case.

Phule also urged the NCSC chairman to stop all recruitments and appointments in the university. She demanded that a delegation be sent to the university to look into the “grievances” of Dalit students, teachers and employees.

When contacted, vice chancellor Sobti said, “I have not violated any rules of the university. I have strictly gone by the rule book in the recruitment and appointment of staff.” When asked about university professor being arrested by CBI, Sobti said, “All I can say is that I have done nothing wrong.”

The name change of BBAU’s engineering college has also left students and faculty members perplexed.

BBAU renamed its engineering institute Centre of Engineering and Technology from University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET).

Nearly 700 students are pursuing B Tech from the engineering college, and this sudden change in the institute’s name has left them worried.

Early this year, the HRD ministry had identified 11 non-performing centrally- funded institutions and BBAU was one of them. “The BBAU and other non-performing varsities will undergo an audit,” a senior HRD ministry official had said.

The institution has around 4,000 students, 50% of whom are Dalits. It enjoys the special status of giving 50% reservation to SC candidates by an act of the Parliament.