Fresh salvo against Rajan Gurukkal

KOTTAYAM:  Triggering a fresh controversy against Mahatma Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor Rajan Gurukkal and the varsity administration, a section has alleged that anomalies were found in the recruitment of the deputy librarian in the University library.The pro-UDF syndicate members, who have been at loggerheads with the VC for sometime, are all set to raise more irregularities that allegedly exist in the recently constituted Centre for Advanced Research in Library Information Science (CARLIS), it is learnt."Irregularities were found in the admission process to the CARLIS. According to the UGC regulations in 2010, the post of deputy librarian has been upgraded to one that equals to associate professor’s and PhD is mandatory in the appointment. However, the former pro-LDF Syndicate promoted an assistant librarian, who does not have PhD, as deputy librarian,” said a Syndicate member.The assistant librarian was promoted to deputy librarian on June 30, 2011. The pro-UDF members alleged that since the recruitment has not got concurrence from the govt, the university administration has initiated steps to award PhD to this deputy librarian.“The deputy librarian, who is doing his PhD at CARLIS, sought time relaxation to submit his report, asking the university to let him file it an year ahead of the stipulated three years time frame. To regularise this irregularity, the deputy librarian required an immediate PhD. If the university gives nod for time relaxation then it would be a clear case of nepotism,” the member said.The university had earlier in its first notification confined the eligibility for applying to the PhD to CARLIS employees only. However, but later it allowed others to register for MG University PhD. However, Gurukkal denied the reports of allowing time relaxation for the deputy librarian to submit his reports.“These are only rumours. We cannot move against the UGC regulations,” Gurukkal said.However, he said that if anybody, who did not have PhD, had been promoted to deputy librarian’s post, it should be examined.“I have not appointed anybody as deputy librarian, using my special power, he said.