NEHU violates UGC promotion norms; HRD min petitioned

SHILLONG: Allegations of gross violation of University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations in the matter of promotions by the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has come to the fore.
A retired professor from NEHU has petitioned HRD Minister, Prakash Javadekar on the violation of rules by the varsity and sought his intervention.
The retired professor, who did not wish to be identified, said in his letter to the Union Minister that he had come across gross anomalies in the matter of promotions under the UGC Regulation, 2010, practiced by the oldest Central University in the North Eastern region.
He alleged that the minimum Academic Performance Indicator (API) score has been compromised in promotions which was mandated under UGC Regulation, 2010 (Gazetted in September, 2010) for appointment and promotion of teachers in colleges and universities across the country.
“A concession of 15 per cent has been given to NEHU faculties from non-science departments. The required score for promotion of associate professor to professor has been brought down to 102 from 120 to promote mediocrity,” he stated.
The former professor also alleged that the amendment made to the UGC Regulation, 2010 to give concession never got any concurrence from higher bodies like UGC or the HRD Ministry and NEHU has been following this concession without informing the higher authorities.
According to the letter, any amendment to raise the standard of UGC Regulation was only recommended in the UGC Regulation, 2010, not to bring it down further, since the API score of 120 was the minimum requirement for promotions and appointments.