The department chairman blames a visiting professor for not sharing the classes. The professor insists he is there for research work and "higher classes". The endless saga of allegations and counter-allegations goes on and on...

"It all started with a lecturer proceeding on long leave in November last year," says chairperson Balraj Kumar Joshi. "I suggested a candidate to the university authorities for a part-time lecturer, but my recommendation was turned down after a candidate with UGC qualification objected. We, however, did not appoint the UGC candidate as he had been complaining against the staff. It was then the decision to share the classes was taken by the Administrative Committee".

Expressing ignorance regarding the appointment procedure, Joshi admits, "No, the post of part-time lecturer was not advertised. The deputy registrar (establishment) had assured that my recommended candidate would be appointed. We'll advertise for next session".

Meanwhile, refuting the allegations of not sharing the burden, Professor S. Jathaul says, "The visiting professor is appointed by the UGC for specialised classes and not for mundane day-to-day functioning of the department."

Further claiming the department to be "non-functional", he asserts, "Even rooms have not been allocated to the entire teaching staff. We are virtually performing from the corridors."

While the staff is clashing over sharing of classes, the students continue to bear the brunt. "After the certificate course student wrote a letter to the Chairman, some alternate arrangements, like extra classes by the existing staff, were made," says a faculty member. "The Diploma Course students, however, are at their wits' ends, as no steps to appoint a part-time lecturer have been taken".

Complains a certificate course student: "Our classes started just recently, although we were enrolled at the beginning of the session. My only apprehension is as to how we are going to grasp all the basics about this alien language, designed to be taught in a course of full session, in just two or three months".