Pune: SPPU Assistant Professor Recruitment Faces Allegations of Irregularities; Candidates Demand Fresh Selection Process
Pune: SPPU Assistant Professor Recruitment Faces Allegations of Irregularities; Candidates Demand Fresh Selection Process
Pune, July 28, 2026: The recruitment process for 133 contractual Assistant Professor posts at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has come under scrutiny after a group of candidates alleged irregularities in the selection process and demanded that the recruitment be cancelled and conducted afresh.
Candidates, along with activists associated with the Shiv-Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar movement, submitted a memorandum to the university administration, alleging that the recruitment process lacked transparency and violated government guidelines.
One of the key concerns raised in the memorandum is that while the recruitment notification advertised 133 vacancies, the university released a final selection list for only 110 posts. The complainants have sought clarification on the status of the remaining posts and questioned how the reservation policy was implemented when appointments were announced for fewer positions than originally advertised.
The candidates also alleged that objections submitted during the recruitment process were not considered. According to the memorandum, July 21, 2026, was the deadline for filing objections, but the university published the final selection list on the same day, leaving no opportunity for the grievances to be addressed.
Further allegations include irregularities in the implementation of reservation for persons with disabilities, arbitrary awarding of interview marks, and discrepancies in the evaluation process. The complainants claimed that some candidates with comparatively lower academic scores received higher interview marks, while candidates with stronger academic credentials were allegedly awarded lower scores and excluded from the final selection.
The memorandum also raised concerns over the interview process, alleging that mandatory teaching demonstrations were not conducted in some departments despite carrying equal weight in the evaluation. It further claimed that reservation representatives and the Vice-Chancellor’s nominees were absent during interviews in certain departments and that provisions for women’s reservation were not adequately implemented.
Additionally, the complainants questioned the evaluation methodology, alleging that the university followed a 50:50 assessment ratio instead of the 60:40 ratio prescribed under the Maharashtra Government Resolution dated February 11, 2026.
Describing the alleged irregularities as detrimental to the credibility of the recruitment process, the candidates have demanded that the current selection be cancelled and a fresh recruitment drive be conducted in accordance with government rules.
They have warned that if the university does not revoke the recruitment process within eight days, affected candidates and supporting organisations will launch an indefinite protest on the SPPU campus.
The university administration had not issued an official response to the allegations at the time of publication.
