A Syndicate member of the University of Calicut has claimed that there has been no “unwarranted delay” in the promotion of teachers in affiliated aided colleges.

K. Pradeep Kumar, the Syndicate member and convener, Standing Committee on Staff of Affiliated Colleges, says in a statement on Tuesday (April 1) that the files pending with the section concerned are in the process of promotion/approval. He was responding to a report carried in these columns titled ‘Aided college teachers in Calicut varsity flag delay in promotions’ on April 1.

Mr. Pradeep Kumar says that the Syndicate Standing Committee on Affiliated College Staff meets periodically to approve promotion and appointment files of teachers. They are usually held bimonthly, or as and when needed, and grant approval for an average of 170 teachers in each session. At any point in time, except immediately after a meeting, around 150 proposals will be awaiting consideration. Mr. Pradeep Kumar said that this does not constitute a delay, as they are systematically reviewed and approved in the subsequent meetings. The committee has consistently met as soon as the files are prepared and duly notified by the Registrar. Over 1,000 proposals have been cleared in the current academic year alone. The current Syndicate has further expedited the process by establishing an additional section, he says.

Mr. Pradeep Kumar points out that the proposals for promotion and appointment approval are first submitted to the relevant section for scrutiny of documents, including the minutes of the screening-cum-evaluation committee and service records of the teachers. Once reviewed, these are presented for approval in the next committee meeting. Only those proposals that have deficiencies, such as missing crucial documents or incomplete service records, are set aside as pending until rectified by the respective colleges. Only these files can be designated as delayed, he said, adding that these are very few. Mr. Pradeep Kumar also claims that the principals of Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, Farook College, Kozhikode, St. Mary’s College, Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad, and Mercy College, Palakkad, have confirmed that only defective and recently sent proposals remain pending with the university.