Supreme Court is strict regarding ragging. (file photo)
Jagran Bureau, New Delhi. The Supreme Court has adopted a strict stance regarding the vacant posts in higher educational institutions, colleges and universities. While ordering to fill the vacant posts within the stipulated time, the apex court has said that all the vacant academic and non-academic posts in higher educational institutions should be filled within four months. It has also been said that administrative posts like Vice-Chancellor and Registrar should be filled within one month of their becoming vacant.
This order was given on Thursday by Justices JB Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan's bench in a case related to the increasing incidents of suicide by students of higher educational institutions. The court said in the order that keeping in mind the shortage of teachers in various higher educational institutions, government and private, it should be ensured that all the vacant faculty posts (both academic and non-academic) are filled within a period of four months. In this, priority should be given to the posts reserved for people from deprived sections and candidates from under-represented communities, which also includes posts reserved for persons with disabilities.
What's in the court order?
The top court has said that special recruitment drives can be conducted to recruit faculty who fall under various types of reservations as per the rules of the Center and states. Appointments and vacancies to the posts of Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and other important institutional/administrative posts should be made within four months. Apart from this, to ensure smooth functioning in higher educational institutions, these posts should be filled within one month from the date of vacancy.
The court said that since the date of retirement is known in advance, the recruitment process should be started well in advance to ensure that such posts do not remain vacant for more than a month. The Court has ordered that all higher educational institutions will submit annual reports to the Central and concerned State Governments in which it will be stated how many reserved posts are vacant, how many have been filled, reasons for not filling and how much time was taken etc. so that accountability can be ensured from time to time.
Court also took cognizance of delay in payment of scholarships
The Court has also taken cognizance of incidents of delay in payment of scholarships and at times preventing students from appearing for examinations, as this causes stress to students. It has also been ordered that the outstanding payment of all pending scholarships should be made by the concerned Central and State Government authorities within four months.
If there is any reason for non-payment, information along with the reason should be sent to the concerned higher educational institution and the student within two months. It should be ensured that all scholarships awarded in future are disbursed by the concerned Central and State Government authorities within clear time frame and without any delay.
Even in cases of unavoidable administrative delays, higher educational institutions should as a policy not hold scholarship recipients liable for payment or disposal of their monies. The court said in the order that no student should be prevented from appearing in examinations, evicted from the hostel, prevented from attending classes, or his marksheet and degree should not be withheld due to delay in distribution of scholarship. Any such institutional policy should be rigorously scrutinized.
Court is strict regarding ragging
While passing orders regarding prevention of ragging in educational institutions, the court said that all higher education institutions are specifically cautioned to strictly comply with all the rules which are binding on them, including UGC Prevention of Ragging in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2009, UGC (Promotion of Equality in Institutions of Higher Education) Regulations 2012, UGC (Promotion of Equality in Institutions of Higher Education) Regulations, 2012, UGC (Regulations on Women Employees in Higher Education Institutions and These include UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Students) Regulations 2016, UGC (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations 2023, etc.
Further, in particular, the detailed procedures for establishment of Anti-Ragging Committees and Anti-Ragging Squads, Anti-Discrimination Officers, Internal Complaint Committees and Student Grievance Redressal Committees and related grievance redressal mechanisms should be strictly followed.
Talking about providing a safe environment to the students, the court has directed all the higher educational institutions across the country to inform the police as soon as they get information about suicide or unnatural death of any student.
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