Allahabad University, central institutes ‘bypass’ SC, ST hiring with ‘not found suitable’ excuse: Panel

University of Allahabad (UoA) selected just 12.3% SC and 5.6% ST candidates during teacher recruitment drives over the last 10 years through which a total of 428 applicants were selected. Plus, it declared 14 candidates “Not-Found-Suitable (NFS)” in the last three years, a parliamentary committee report highlights.

The parliamentary standing committee on welfare for the SC/ST took strong exception to the use of NFS as reason for not recruiting, saying, “representation gap persists due to NFS”.

While studying the reservation policy of Allahabad University, one of the oldest universities in the country, the panel also highlighted that there is a shortfall of 437 SC/ST faculty positions in various central universities, as of March 2025.

The committee stated that the “absence of representation of SC/ST officials from university’s statutory bodies, like the executive council, excludes marginalised voices from shaping the future of higher education”.

The parliamentary standing committee for welfare of SC/ST headed by BJP MP Faggan Singh Kulaste submitted the report in the parliament on Wednesday. The report is titled “Role of autonomous bodies/educational institutions Including Central Universities Engineering Colleges, IIMs, IITs, Medical Institutes in socioeconomic development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes” with specific reference to the implementation of reservation policy in the Central University of Allahabad.

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Teaching, non-teaching vacancy backlog

Commenting on the low faculty recruitment at central universities, the committee said, “Even when recruitment drives are announced, representation gaps persist due to systemic description NFS, and delays in filling reserved positions. The committee observed that in spite of having proper eligibility, competence, …SC/ST aspirants are rarely inducted as faculty members even at the initial stage”.

It also expressed concern on how assistant professors belonging to reserved categories and having worked at the university on an ad-hoc basis were not selected at the time of regular recruitment “by stating a cliché reply that they are not suitable and unfit for induction,” the panel remarked.

Earlier, the availability of eligible SC-ST candidates at the entry-level cadre – particularly for the post of assistant professor – was relatively low. As a result, fewer candidates from these categories progressed to higher academic positions such as associate professor and professor, leading to a limited number of Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions within the reserved categories.

It has asked the university to submit an action plan within three months from the date of presentation of the report to both the Houses of parliament.

“The Committee are also of the firm view that in future too after filling up all the existing vacant positions, no faculty seat of SC-ST community should remain vacant for more than six months under any circumstances,” it added.

In the non-teaching category there are 2 shortfalls in Group ‘A’, 8 in Group ‘B’ and 38 in Group ‘C’ posts.

“This clearly indicates lackadaisical approach of the University of Allahabad towards filling up of the SC/ST vacancies. The committee are dismayed to note that UoA, an institute of excellence and brilliance which was once the centre of Indian National Movement and also the fourth oldest and one of the most prestigious universities in the country offering various courses at graduate and under graduate is now turning into a place of unfair treatment towards reserved category candidates,” the panel stated.

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Teacher Recruitment: ‘Wrong assessment attitude’

The committee has stated that this practice of NFS “undermines reservation policies, perpetuates disengagement, and keeps reserved teaching posts vacant.”

The committee said: “NFS allows institutions to bypass filling reserved posts. The committee is not inclined to accept the frequent stereo-type reply of the government that “no sufficient number of suitable candidates could be found. This in fact is not a correct picture of assessment of the SC/ST candidates who are equally bright and deserving”.

“The committee also feels that in some cases candidates are declared as NFS because of a wrong assessment attitude by the selection committee just to deprive SC/ST candidates of their rights to be part of faculty members,” it added.

In order to curtail the practice, it recommended constituting a selection committee composed primarily of SC/ST experts, including the chairperson.

“If necessary, provisions of concession/relaxation can also be exercised by the university. The committee also desires that recruitment panels should justify why candidates are deemed unsuitable since such decisions are vulnerable and not merit-based evaluation,” the report said.

To ensure the proper implementation of reservation policy, Allahabad University must entrust the job of maintaining rosters to officers who are well versed and acquainted with reservation rules and maintain them strictly in accordance with the instructions laid down in this regard.

“Rosters should be inspected regularly by liaison officers and inspection reports should be properly kept. Liaison officers should be able to work independently free from any undue pressure and interference for its proper maintenance. Roster is a very important document as far as the welfare and safeguarding of the interests of the SCs and STs is concerned,” the panel added.

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Lack of SC/ST officials in statutory bodies

Citing the case at University of Allahabad, the panel stated that excluding SC/ST officials from the executive councils of central universities “perpetuates systemic inequity, weakens representation in decision-making, and undermines constitutional guarantees of social justice”.

In the last 10 years, SC/ST officials have been part of the EC at UoA only for six years. There is no representation during the remaining four years.

“Absence of SC/ST officials in EC is not just symbolic, it structurally excludes marginalised voices from shaping the future of higher education. …it perpetuates discrimination, sustains vacancy backlogs, and dilutes trust in universities as inclusive institutions. Executive councils shape recruitment, promotions, curriculum, and grievance redressal. Non-inclusion of SC/ST members means policies are crafted without considering caste-based discrimination or barriers faced by SC/ST faculty and students,” the panel noted.

The panel has recommended that the Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education)/UGC must come forward to formulate policies in coordination with all stakeholders to ensure mandatory representation of SCs/STs in the EC of central universities.

University of Allahabad: Decreasing enrolment

The details submitted by Allahabad University to the committee also shows that in the last three years, there has been a general fall in enrolment.

Out of the total admitted students, 18.34% were SC in 2025-26 and 4.35% ST, much lower than the mandated reservation of 7.5% for the ST category. Scheduled-Caste students’ representation has fallen from 20.20% in 2023-24 to 18.34% in present.