Reservation for OBCs is mandatory in recruitment to universities and other institutions of higher learning in India. However, a recent advertisement issued by Central University of Kerala (CUK) sought to deny this right to the OBCs. After protests, the university administration has issued an amended advertisement, reserving posts for the OBCs. The last date for submission of applications is 31 July 2019.
CUK had invited applications for 69 teaching positions through an advertisement issued on 14 June 2019. Among them 15 posts were for professors, 29 for associate professors and 25 for assistant professors in the departments of humanities, science, commerce, education, law, social sciences and languages.
In the original advertisement, among the 44 posts of professors and associate professors, none were reserved for the OBCs while among the 25 posts of assistant professors, five were set aside for them. Three posts of professors were reserved for SCs and one for STs. Of the 29 posts of associate professors, five were reserved for SCs and three for STs.
Except for OBCs, positions were assigned for all other categories, including Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
Following protests, the university administration issued an amended advertisement on 5 July 2019, reserving three (of the 15) posts of professors and seven (of 29) posts of associate professors for the OBCs.
