Allegations of irregularities have emerged concerning appointments to non-academic and administrative permanent positions at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, West Bengal. Job applicants have raised complaints about the lack of transparency in the recruitment process, stating that the final merit list was not published on the university’s official website. Instead, appointment letters were allegedly sent through personal email IDs, bypassing standard procedures.
The complainants have highlighted discrepancies in the selection process for various positions, such as Registrar and Director roles, where appointment details were disclosed, unlike for Deputy Registrar and Assistant Registrar (General) posts. They have also questioned the publication of the final professional merit list without the preliminary results being made public by the National Testing Agency.
Candidates have expressed concerns over the legality and procedural fairness of the merit list, alleging that it favors relatively unqualified individuals due to influence from a “malicious group.” In contrast, university authorities have refuted these claims, asserting that all appointments were made following the prescribed rules and regulations. The Registrar of Visva-Bharati University clarified that the selection process adhered to the guidelines outlined in the recruitment notification issued in April 2023.
Visva-Bharati’s Public Relations Officer has defended the recruitment process, stating that it was conducted in full compliance with the established norms. The university maintains that the allegations of impropriety are unfounded and that all eligible candidates were chosen based on the stipulated criteria.
