Rajasthan. The State Government's recent announcement of 1913 vacancies for college lecturers has ignited a wave of excitement and hope among aspiring individuals yearning for opportunities to impart knowledge and contribute to academia. The significant number of openings has sparked a sense of ambition and aspiration among countless young minds. However, amidst this atmosphere of optimism, the hopes of the reserved categories have been dampened by concerns over the alleged flouting of reservation norms. The disillusionment surrounding the disregard for reservation principles has left many deserving candidates disheartened and questioning the fairness of the recruitment process.

The Rajasthan Public Service Commission has issued a notification inviting applications for Assistant Professor positions across 48 subjects. The online application process is set to commence on June 26, with a deadline of July 25, midnight.

Within the state, there exists a network of 545 government colleges, spanning divisions, districts, and subdivisions, that cater to higher education. Among these educational institutions, an estimated figure of 3,000 professors are presently known to offer their services, and approximately 4,000 readers and lecturers diligently imparting knowledge. In the context of this recruitment drive, the government and higher education department aim to fill the vacancy of 1913 lecturers, distributed among various subjects.

The process of recruiting these college teachers for the academic year 2022-23 has involved a dynamic exchange between the Rajasthan Public Service Commission and the College Education Department. Meticulous consideration was given to the classification and evaluation of posts, accompanied by a comprehensive assessment of technical intricacies at the commission level.

However, a disconcerting observation has surfaced in relation to the reservation provisions. According to the mandated allocation of 12% for Scheduled Tribes (ST), the anticipated number of reserved posts should amount to 230. Regrettably, the recent advertisement has only allocated 184 seats to ST candidates, thereby falling short of the rightful representation they deserve. Similarly, for Scheduled Castes (SC), who are entitled to 16% reservation, the advertised vacancy of 223 posts does not align with the anticipated figure of 308. Furthermore, the category of Most Backward Classes, with a prescribed reservation of 5%, is faced with allocation of 93 seats, falling short of the rightful count of 96. Lastly, the Economic Weaker Sections (EWS) category, with a prescribed reservation of 10%, should have been allocated 191 posts, but the advertisement has instead listed 193 posts, exceeding the required count by two.

Reservation Violations Stir Discontent Among SC/ST Candidates

Dr. Jitendra Meena, Assistant Professor at Delhi University, voiced his disappointment, emphasizing the significance of the substantial number of vacancies being announced after a considerable period. Speaking to The Mooknayak, he stated, "It has been a long time since such a significant number of vacancies were made available. Last time it was in 2012 that a large number of vacancies had been invited by the RPSC. However, it is disheartening to see that the aspirants from the ST and SC communities are left disappointed as around 120 posts fall short of their reserved quota, disregarding the essential principles of due reservation norms."

Meena asserts that denying SC/ST candidates the opportunity they deserve would be a severe injustice, considering that the next round of vacancies may not arise for another 5-7 years. This would inevitably lead to a substantial backlog of aspiring candidates, intensifying the competition and making it even more challenging for them to secure their rightful place. He further argues that flouting reservation norms undermines the fundamental purpose envisioned by our visionary leaders, which was to ensure equitable participation and provide marginalized communities a chance to integrate into a system that had long denied them their rightful opportunities.  

Legislators to write letters to CM

Dr Meena added , "Recognizing the importance of raising awareness, we have taken the first step by leveraging social media platforms to shed light on the issue. By utilizing these channels, we aim to amplify our message and garner support for the cause. Additionally, we have proactively approached legislators and leaders from the SC/ST community, seeking their involvement in registering objections and advocating for fair representation. We are urging them to write to the Chief Minister and RPSC and demand rectification of the vacancy notification to ensure that the rightful opportunities are provided to deserving candidates from the marginalized communities." If both the techniques do not work, then we would stage protests, he said.

Subject-wise notified vacant posts

An overview of the subject-wise distribution of vacancies reveals a diverse array of disciplines and the corresponding number of available positions. Noteworthy mentions include Botany with 70 vacancies, Chemistry with 81, Mathematics with 53, Physics with 60, and Zoology with 64. Additionally, disciplines such as ABST (86), Business Administration (71), and EAFM (70) also present favorable opportunities. However, subjects like Geology (6), Law (25), and Economics (103) reflect a varied range of vacancies. Among the humanities, English (153), Geography (150), Hindi (214), History (177), Sociology (80), Philosophy (11), Political Science (181), and Public Administration (45) exhibit promising openings. Furthermore, subjects like Sanskrit (76/-24), Punjabi (1), Library Science (1), Psychology (10), Rajasthani (6), Sindhi (3), Jainology (1), Garment Production (1), Military Science (1), Art History (2), Museology (2), Drawing Painting (35), Musical Vocal (12), Instrument (4), Applied Art (5), Painting (5), Sculpture (4), Tabla (2), Violin (2), Agricultural Entomology (1), Animal Husbandry (2), Agronomy (3), Agricultural Economics (1), Engineering (1), Horticulture (3), Livestock (1), Plant Pathology (2), and Soil Science (2) further contribute to the comprehensive range of vacancies available.