The move of the Tribhuvan University to give permanent status to contract lecturers through special provision has been challenged at the Supreme Court. The Tribhuvan University (TU) had announced internal vacancies for 771 teachers under a special free competition aimed at making contract lecturers permanent.

Three separate writs have been filed at the SC against the TU move, claiming that it was contradictory to constitutional guarantee of free competition in all public sector institutions.

Under pressure from contract lecturers, the university a year ago had amended the TU Regulation to address the teacher´s demands and give permanent status to as many as 22,200 contract lecturers.

“The TU move also violates rights to equality as the constitutions states that every eligible citizen has the right to apply for a job in any public sector institution,” said one of the petitioner Megh Prasad Kharel.

After completing his master´s degree in English, 33-years-old Kharel has been looking for opportunities in the TU. But such arbitrary provisions have blocked his way, he adds.

Amending the TU Regulation, the university on March 14 had announced a vacancy for 771 teachers under special internal free competition to address the demands of the provisional teachers.

Gyanendra Raj Aran, another petitioner, said that entry into the TU as a fresher is allowed only for the lecturers´ post. In such situation, creating internal vacancies was frustrating for the educated unemployed of the country. Aran has a master´s degree in Mathematics.

The SC has already issued a show cause notice against the defendants.

“The SC has said that a single bench can´t hear the case and the special bench would hear the case on May 30,” Aran added.

Meanwhile, legal officer of the university, Narayan Khanal told Republica that the TU is not likely to be defensive in the case, but that it would act according to the court´s direction.

“The university does not need to be defensive. The vacancies will be scrapped if the court orders so,” said Khanal.

source:republica,26 may 2014