UoP tightens hiring process after 2008 cash-for-post scam

After learning tough lessons from the non-teaching staff recruitment scam in 2008, the University of Pune (UoP) is taking all precautions to make sure that the upcoming recruitment is foolproof.

The upcoming recruitment drive has introduced a written test worth 300 marks for recruitment of Class I and Class II posts, strict cut offs, online exams on UoP campus to avoid human intervention, among others.

Through the drive, the UoP will be expected to fill 63 Class I and Class II posts, and 296 Class III and Class IV posts that are lying vacant since five years. "Pune University will be the first public university across the state to introduce many tough measures in its upcoming recruitment procedure, including a written exam," said Dr Narendra Kadu, Registrar of UoP.

Asked if UoP was initiating all these measures following the 2008 recruitment scam, he said, "I have recently take over the charges. I don't know what had happened in 2008. But yes, this time, we don't want to take any risk."

The UoP has already advertised for all vacancies and the last date for submitting applications is June 6. Till date, 2,739 candidates have applied online for 63 Class I and Class II posts. The total vacancies in Class III and Class IV posts
are 296.

A big corruption racket was busted in 2008 when a recruitment drive was organised by UoP for Class III and Class IV employees.
"At that time, it was revealed that some varsity employees has asked for money during the interviews and assured that required changes will be made in the written exam paper after getting the bribe. The then Vice-Chancellor Dr Narendra Jadhav had stayed all recruitment procedure following the disclosure of the scam," informed a top official.

Since 2008, UoP has not recruited a single employee of Class III and IV due to the scam and restrictions imposed by the state government on fresh recruitments.

"The first written exam paper will be common for all posts. Through this paper, we are going select five candidates per vacancy according to their scores and only those selected candidates will be eligible for the next two written papers and for interviews. Then, depending on their scores, we will declare the final merit list and short-listed candidates," explained the Kadu.

According to the timetable set by the UoP, the procedure will be completed in the next three months.u00a0