Ahmedabad: Following strong objections from the Gujarat High Court regarding the state government’s decision to use a private staffing agency for recruiting law college faculty, the government has retracted its outsourcing plan. On Friday, the state canceled the work order that had initiated this controversial recruitment method. The court had indicated it might take suo motu action, potentially leading to public interest litigation (PIL) proceedings, prompting the government’s swift response.
The development came during the hearing of a petition filed by a candidate from Patan, challenging the recruitment of 108 adhyapak sahayaks in 27 govt law colleges through an outsourcing agency.
Justice Kariel said the issue warranted consideration by the high court on its own motion as a public interest litigation. The petitioner contended that the recruitment process lacked transparency and raised concerns over the manner in which appointments were proposed to be made. During Thursday’s hearing, Justice Nikhil Kariel observed that the court could not approve such a practice. The judge remarked that professors were not Class IV employees whose services could be outsourced. The court questioned the legality and fairness of selection criteria that a private agency might frame and apply for academic appointments. The court then granted the state a day to clarify its stand.