Appointment of faculty members in self-financing colleges affiliated to the University of Calicut (CU) is once again proving to be a hot topic, with the authorities issuing a circular stating that only those with PhDs or those who have passed the National Eligibility Test (NET) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) should be appointed to the posts.
Of the 400 colleges affiliated to the university, more than 200 are in the self-financing sector. More than one million students are pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses in these institutions. The latest move is expected to affect thousands of faculty members who may lose their jobs starting next academic year. Although the university had taken a similar decision in April 2025, the Syndicate decided to freeze it after protests.
The latest circular, issued by registrar Denoj Sebastian on February 9, follows a directive from the office of governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, also the chancellor of the university, to the vice-chancellor (VC). The circular says that the qualifications laid down by the UGC regulations should be strictly adhered to while appointing faculty members in all affiliated institutions. Along with this, their data should be uploaded to the web portals of these universities. Any violation of these guidelines will be dealt with severely, the circular added.
However, associations representing self-financing university employees criticized the move. In a statement, the Left Self-financing Schools Teachers and Staff Association (SFCTSA) said a large number of teachers in these colleges were appointed years ago. The association said the assembly passed a law in 2021 saying that these teachers should be given enough time to clear the UGC-NET or get a doctorate. The then-governor also approved the legislation. The SFCTSA also pointed out that while the recent circular highlighted the qualifications mandated by the UGC, it was silent on the provision of salary set by the central agency for teachers. Most universities did not provide facilities for staff to obtain PhDs, the association added.
Another collective of self-financing university teachers submitted a memorandum to the VC on Monday (February 16), demanding at least five years for existing staff to acquire the required qualifications. The collective said that sudden official action may result in many faculty members losing their livelihood. Both organizations demanded that the circular be shelved.
Published – 16 Feb 2026 20:34 IST