Inordinate delay in PhD admissions causes agony

Inordinate delay and lackadaisical attitude of Osmania University officials are leaving Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) candidates, aspiring to get admitted into the Doctor of Philosophy programme in the varsity, in a quandary and distress. It has been two-and-a-half months since the interviews were conducted, but there has been no development in the process of the PhD admissions, which is causing agony to the aspirants.

The PhD admissions in Osmania University always seem to court controversies. The usual complaints are about nepotism or favouring students supported by a particular student union. Now, adding to the woes of the meritorious students is slow pace of administrative work related to the admissions. Students who cleared the prestigious NET exam and are awarded JRF are eagerly awaiting admissions. The university issued a notification calling for interviews in March 2019 and interviews were conducted in April 24. The results for the interviews are yet to be declared. Students contacting the dean's office have been getting the same response that the papers have been sent to UGC and the varsity is waiting for them. Never before were the JRF awardees made to wait for more than two months. Earlier, the result was declared within 10 days of the interview date.

The aspirants allege that even after completion of interviews for nearly 13 JRF candidates, due to influence of student union leaders, second term interview was conducted without any notification and six more candidates were included. It is quite unethical, they opine. Usually, the university conducts PhD interviews twice in a year, but it has been almost a year that no notification is issued by the authorities, the students allege. They claim OU officials were reluctant to hold interviews.

"I cleared JRF in 2017 December and appeared for interview on April 24. It is the irresponsible behaviour of the authorities which caused this huge delay. I was happy when I cleared the exam as I was eligible for the scholarship, but this long wait has subjected me to much agony and made me look for jobs," said a student deploring the state of affairs in the university.

Another aspirant who appeared for interview on April 24 said," Even after completion of interviews for JRF candidates on April 24, six more candidates were included due to the influence of the student organisation leaders recently. It is quite clear that the authorities are not bothered about the future of genuine candidates." He also said that the delay could have happened only because of favouritism and nepotism.

When The Hans India approached the university Dean Ashok Naidu, he clarified: "Students these days want everything faster like how they withdraw cash from ATM. We have sent the forms to the UGC and the delay is at their end. We will give the order copy as soon as we get them."