The Delhi High Court has asked Jawaharlal Nehru University to furnish its stand on a petition challenging the varsity’s move to “alter” the selection criteria for vacant teaching posts in the Centre for Historical Studies (CHS) after these were advertised.
Issuing notice to JNU on Friday, Justice A K Chawla said the university will not fill up vacant posts till May 6, the next date of hearing.
In their plea, two CHS professors have accused JNU of “illegally and unilaterally”” changing the selection criteria for the positions of assistant professors in the department “during the selection process”.
The petitioners have sought quashing of the list of candidates shortlisted on the basis of new “diluted criteria” and the interviews conducted.
They said the university diluted the criteria by asking the selection panel to do away with the need for specialisation.
JNU put the vacant positions as “open posts” by removing the need for specialisation, allowing a person with a masters’ degree to apply, the petitioners claimed.