A parliamentary committee report, submitted Wednesday, accuses Allahabad University and other central institutions of systematically bypassing Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) hiring quotas. The report highlights the repeated use of a “not found suitable” (NFS) excuse to deny qualified candidates, leading to significant representation gaps.
Teacher Recruitment Shortfalls
Allahabad University selected only 12.3% SC and 5.6% ST candidates for teaching positions over the last 10 years. Out of 428 total applicants selected during this period, these figures represent a stark underrepresentation. Additionally, the university declared 14 candidates “Not-Found-Suitable” in the last three years, according to the parliamentary standing committee on welfare for SC/ST.
The committee strongly criticized the NFS reason for not recruiting, stating, “representation gap persists due to NFS.” Across various central universities, a shortfall of 437 SC/ST faculty positions exists as of March 2025.
Committee Rejects “Not Found Suitable” Excuse
The committee expressed deep concern over the “systemic description NFS.” It observed that eligible and competent SC/ST aspirants are rarely inducted as faculty members, even at initial stages. Assistant professors from reserved categories working ad-hoc were often denied regular selection with the same “not suitable” reply.
The panel firmly stated that NFS “allows institutions to bypass filling reserved posts.” It rejected the government’s frequent reply that “no sufficient number of suitable candidates could be found.” The committee believes this view does not accurately assess SC/ST candidates, who are equally bright and deserving.
“Wrong assessment attitude by the selection committee” also contributes to declaring candidates NFS, aiming to deprive SC/ST candidates of their rights, the committee added.
Recommendations for Fair Recruitment
To address these issues, the committee recommended several measures:
- Constitute selection committees primarily with SC/ST experts, including the chairperson.
- Justify all decisions deeming candidates unsuitable, as these decisions may not be merit-based.
- Exercise provisions for concession or relaxation if necessary.
- Entrust roster maintenance to officers well-versed in reservation rules.
- Ensure liaison officers inspect rosters regularly and work independently.
The committee has demanded an action plan from Allahabad University within three months. It also specified that no SC/ST faculty seat should remain vacant for more than six months after all existing positions are filled.
Non-Teaching Vacancies
Shortfalls also exist in non-teaching categories at Allahabad University. The report identifies 2 vacancies in Group ‘A’ posts, 8 in Group ‘B’ posts, and 38 in Group ‘C’ posts for SC/ST candidates. The committee described this as a “lackadaisical approach” by the university.
Exclusion from Statutory Bodies
The parliamentary panel highlighted the absence of SC/ST officials from university statutory bodies, such as the Executive Council. This absence excludes marginalized voices from shaping higher education’s future.
At Allahabad University, SC/ST officials served on the Executive Council for only six out of the last 10 years. This exclusion perpetuates systemic inequity and weakens representation in decision-making. The committee recommended mandatory representation of SCs/STs in central university Executive Councils.
University Enrollment Trends
Data submitted by Allahabad University to the committee indicates a general decline in student enrollment over three years:
| Year | Number of Students Enrolled |
|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 9,739 |
| 2024-25 | 8,644 |
| 2025-26 | 6,896 |
SC student representation fell from 20.20% in 2023-24 to 18.34% in 2025-26. ST student representation stood at 4.35% in 2025-26, below the mandated 7.5% reservation.