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Context
- India’s constitutional commitment to social justice is both a legal and ethical duty to address historical injustices.
- Reservation quotas exist (SC-15%, ST-7.5%, OBC-27%, and others 10%) to ensure representation in higher education.
- Representation in faculty positions affects not only access to education but also knowledge production and dissemination.
- Despite these policies, premier institutions consistently fail to fill reserved faculty posts.
Alarming Data on Vacant Posts
- As of April 2021, in 45 central universities:
- 2,389 SC faculty positions vacant
- 1,199 ST faculty positions vacant
- 4,251 OBC faculty positions vacant
- Targeted recruitment drives at institutions like JNU and Delhi University have shown limited success.
- UGC 2023 report: Nearly 30% of reserved teaching posts remain unfilled, especially at senior levels (associate professor, professor).
- In contrast, lower-level reserved posts in sectors like railways and banking are routinely filled.
Systemic Barriers to Inclusion
- Institutional Autonomy and Accountability Gaps
- Central universities have significant autonomy.
- UGC mandates reservation but enforcement is weak and inconsistent.
- Selection committees and VCs often lack urgency in fulfilling reservation mandates.
- Lack of oversight enables institutions to bypass constitutional requirements.
- The 13-Point Roster System
- Introduced in 2018, replaced the earlier 200-point system.
- Instead of calculating reservation at institutional level, it applies at department level.
- Smaller departments fail to meet thresholds for reserved posts, especially for ST and SC categories.
- The system has faced legal challenges and protests for reducing representation.
- Discretionary Rejection and Institutional Bias
- Qualified SC, ST, OBC candidates often rejected on vague grounds like “not found suitable.”
- Ambedkar University Faculty Association study (2022): 60%+ of reserved vacancies due to arbitrary rejections.
- Creates exclusionary culture discouraging marginalized candidates.
Recommendations for a More Inclusive Academia
- Strengthen Enforcement Mechanisms
- UGC should conduct regular audits and publish compliance reports.
- Institutions must face penalties for reservation non-compliance.
- Reform the Roster System
- Revise the 13-point roster to better align with constitutional equality.
- Supreme Court hearings and proactive legislative/regulatory action are crucial.
- Institutionalize Fair and Transparent Recruitment
- Diversify selection committees.
- Implement clear, objective evaluation criteria.
- Train administrators on social justice principles to shift institutional culture.
- Political Will and Ethical Commitment
- Social justice must move beyond rhetoric into actionable policy.
- Leadership must demonstrate genuine commitment to pluralism and equity.
Conclusion
- The persistent underrepresentation of marginalized groups in university faculties is a moral and democratic crisis.
- Universities are spaces of social transformation and must reflect societal diversity.
- Governance must be rooted in justice, equity, and inclusion.
- Only through reforms, accountability, and visionary leadership can India fulfill its promise of social justice and create an inclusive knowledge society.
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General Studies