Senate member Amarjit Singh Manhas in a letter dated October 15, 1998, enquired with Vice-Chancellor Dr Snehalata Deshmukh on the filling up of over 35 vacancies under Class-III and Class-IV category employees in service.His letter maintains that the university has conducted written and typing tests of about 125 persons registered with the Employment Exchange, Mumbai.

But without completing the selection procedure of recruitment, these posts were later filled up violating all rules and regulations by both university and government officials to favour some persons who were not in the list of above 125 applicants, the letter claimed. As per the standard code (1984), the Universityof Mumbai is required to appoint class III and IV employees through the Regional Employment Exchange or by open competition by giving advertisement in newspapers.

The Executive Council/Management Council had, on several occasions, directed the university not to appoint staff directly or persons who do not possess required educational qualifications. Manhas claims to have a list of persons who have been favoured.

However, the vice-chancellor denied any irregularity in recruitments. ``Sixty-five posts were sanctioned by the Management Council when I took over. Of them, about 35-36 posts have been filled up, all for the Examination House (at the Kalina campus). And these are all temporary posts.''

Justifying the method of recruitment, the VC said there has been 600 unapproved posts, of which 271 has been recommended by the Sonawane Committee set up by the state government. However, the government is yet to approve these posts. Meanwhile, since the university has to carry on with its work, it has littleoption but appoint staff temporarily, maintained Deshmukh.

``The 35 posts mentioned in my letter does not come under the purview of Sonawane committee. Moreover, if these employees are temporary, then how come they are continuing after 180 days? By continuing them, university has flouted all rules and made them almost permanent,'' Manhas stated.