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The plea states that it is the fundamental right of the candidates to know about the shortlisting criteria while alleging that the recruitment process in IITs is completely based on the recommendation and interrelations of existing professors.
A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the appointment of faculty members in IITs made since 2008. The plea also seeks direction for providing an opportunity to north and Hindi-speaking states for the faculty position in IITs.
The plea has been filed against the recruitment process of IIT faculty alleging that it is completely based on recommendations and interrelations of existing professors.
The petitioner has filed the writ petition against IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Roorkee, IIT Ropar, IIT Bhubneshwar, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Patna, IIT Indore, IIT Mandi, IIT Varanasi, IIT Pallakad, IIT Tirupati, IIT Dhanbad, IIT Bhilai, IIT Jammu, IIT Goa, and IIT Dharwad.
The plea states that candidates applying for the faculty positions are completely unaware of the short-listing criteria and the weightage given for different rounds of the selection process.
“The candidates applying for the faculty positions are completely unaware of the short-listing criteria and the weightages given for different rounds of the selection process. The IITs never published the details of shortlisted candidates. The IITs usually don’t inform the candidates who are not being called or shortlisted for interviews” the plea reads.
The petition further states that it is the fundamental right of the candidates to know about the shortlisting criteria.
“It is mentioned in the advertisement that 'no interim correspondence whatsoever will be entertained to candidates regarding conduct and result of interview and reasons for not being called for interview or selection'. However, this is fundamental right of the candidates to know about the shortlisting criteria, for different components of selection process and the exact methodology adopted by the IITs (quality of research publications, research projects, application of research, teaching/research experience and interview, etc),” the plea states.
The plea further states that the professors of a few states have captured, hacked, and hijacked the selection processes in IITs due to their majority in the system. Hence, they are inducting the faculty from their states due to their state favoritism mentality and to keep their number high, the plea alleges.
Further, the plea adds that if such a chain is not broken then it will be an injustice to many states in India.
“This chain has become stronger, and it needs to be broken immediately. Otherwise, it will do significant injustice to the mentioned states of the country. It is totally non-democratic way of selection, which can bifurcate its citizens. The poor academic performances by the large number of professors in IITs are also negatively impacting the science, technological and economic growth of the country in various dimensions" the plea states.
The plea alleges that such practices have resulted in a violation of Articles 14, 15, 16, and 21 of the Constitution.
Case Title: Dr. Sachchida Nand Pandey vs Union of India & Ors
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