THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Director of College Education has hindered the move to grant professorship to retired teachers in government colleges in violation of UGC rules.

22 retired teachers from government colleges have applied for professorships. Director of College Education V Vigneshwari submitted a letter to the government seeking a policy decision in their case. It is one teachers' union that is pushing for illegal recruitment.

According to Section 6.3 of the UGC Regulation 2018, only those in service should be considered for the post of Professor. The Selection Committee should conduct an interview and recommend the candidates for promotion. In order to get a promotion, a candidate should have 15 years of service and research degree and at least 10 publications in UGC accredited journals. The government has approved this. 22 people, who were in service in 2018, applied to become professors. Although two of them were invited for an interview, the director did not allow them to attend the interview. The remaining 132 teachers were interviewed.

While the Director of College Education has the authority to grant professorship in government colleges, it is the University that has the power o grant professorship in aided colleges. Calicut and MG Universities had issued orders to grant professorships to retired teachers. The University of Kerala, which refused to issue a similar order, rejected the applications of the retired teachers.