Jadavpur University has written to the UGC that they are “contemplating” inducting teachers as part-time hostel superintendents in addition to the existing full-time contractual hostel superintendents following UGC guidelines.
The UGC last month wrote to JU that teachers be given charge of administering hostels against proper remuneration and be provided other facilities instead of poorly paid contractual superintendents who, the apex regulatory body said, "are not capable of preventing instances of ragging" because hostel residents do not recognise their authority.
JU registrar Snehamanju Basu, who wrote to the UGC earlier this month, said they had used the term "contemplating" in the communication because they were yet to find out whether JU could decide to engage teachers as part-time hostel superintendents considering that the vice-chancellor has not been attending office since December 27. The university's highest decision-making body, the executive council, is not meeting in the absence of the VC.
The letter signed by Basu said: “Jadavpur University here states that all the recommendations of the UGC Anti-Ragging (Regulations) as advised in the above-mentioned letter (refers to UGC letter dated February 17) have been implemented by the university… except in respect to point no. b.”
“Jadavpur University authority is contemplating to add teachers as part-time hostel superintendents in addition to the existing full-time contractual hostel superintendents following the UGC guidelines,” it added.
Point b of the UGC’s communication said it was strange that unlike most universities, JU teachers were not associated with hostel affairs.
The UGC has been prodding JU to take steps to curb ragging in hostels since a first-year student was allegedly killed by senior students in the main hostel in August 2023.