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UGC sets new NET exemption cut-off date for MPhil holders

HENNAI: In a major relief to thousands of MPhil degree holders aspiring for a lecturer's job, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to exempt all candidates who obtained an MPhil degree on or before July 10, 2009 from clearing the tough-to-crack National Eligibility Test (NET) to qualify for appointment as a teacher in a college or university. The decision, taken at the UGC's 472nd meeting recently, comes as a huge relief for scores of MPhil degree holders who stood disqualified for an assistant professor's post (earlier called lecturer) sans an NET qualification. The UGC had last year notified its new regulations on minimum qualifications for teaching faculty as per which a pass in the NET was mandatory for appointment as assistant professors. This regulation had invited strong protests from a cross-section of the academic community and also led to multiple litigations in various high courts, including the Madras high court. At its meeting, the UGC noted that the UGC Regulations of 2009/2010 "are prospective and not retrospective in nature," and therefore resolved that "all candidates having MPhil degree on or before July 10, 2009 shall remain exempted from the requirement of NET for the purpose of appointment as lecturer/assistant professor." 
A copy of the minutes of the meeting furnished to a Delhi-based applicant under the Right To Information Act revealed that similar exemption shall be applicable to all candidates who have obtained a PhD degree on or before December 31, 2009. Candidates, who had registered themselves for PhD degree on or before July 10, 2009 and are subsequently awarded PhD degree, shall also enjoy the exemption from NET. 
The UGC's latest decision is likely to have a bearing on a batch of petitions filed by MPhil degree holders in the Madras high court challenging a notification issued by the Teachers Recruitment Board in March for filling up 1,024 posts of assistant professors in government colleges in Tamil Nadu inviting only NET-qualified or PhD degree holders for the job. Last week, the court had castigated the UGC and the Union ministry for human resource development for their inaction which had led to the 1,024 posts remaining vacant since the two agencies did not clarify their position on the minimum qualification for teachers.