Discriminatory provision for appointment of college teachers withdrawn

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Government has seen reason and withdrawn the controversial directive regarding appointment of college teachers, for the present setting the standards straight for colleges run by minorities and non-minorities.

The earlier directive had put the colleges run by minorities and non-minorities in different categories. The minorities could select two of the subject experts from a panel of five being approved by the Vice-Chancellor. That would give leverage for the minority managements to have their own subject experts to some extent.

But in the case of non-minorities, the Vice-Chancellor would give two subject experts unilaterally, with the managements not having a choice.

This provision was astutely objected to by non-minority managements, particularly the Nair Service Society.

And the objection of the NSS had its grain of reason, for all the colleges had entered into an agreement with the State government, called direct payment agreement, in 1972 in which the mode of appointment was specifically included.

Any violation from the terms contained in the direct payment agreement, and that too with discrimination, could have been a shattering situation in the higher education sector.

Even with regard to changing terms and conditions for appointment of college teachers, much emphasis is there in the direct payment agreement, which cannot be tinkered with easily.