Unwarranted glorification of M.Phil in derogation of Ph.D

Kurukshetra University is pleased to invite application, inter alia, for the post of Assistant Professor in Law in the Department of Law vide advt. no. 4/2011. In addition to the requirement of minimum qualification for eligibility, the University has laid down criteria enumerating the various categories for short listing the candidates to be called for interview in case the number of eligible candidates for one post exceeds fifteen. For every additional post, maximum fifteen additional candidates will be invited for interview. It further sets out that in case the number of eligible candidates is more than the above prescribed number of candidates, the screening committee shall short list the candidates, in the descending order, in the light of the prescribed criteria in addition to conditions laid down for the eligibility.
Bare facedly, the said short listing criteria bear out that those candidates who are NET + Ph.D simpliciter do not find any place in any of the categories except the residuary Category-7 that reads as “All the candidates who do not fall in any of the above category if fulfill the eligibility conditions will be called for interview.” Conversely, the candidates who are NET + M.Phil simpliciter enjoy weightage/preferential treatment and are privileged to find place in Category-6 that reads as “NET/SLET with 2nd Class M.Phil” i.e. one notch above the residuary category-7 wherein only the NET + Ph.D simpliciter may find a place as per the prescribed criteria.
The above factual narration clearly shows that said short listing criteria has assigned M.Phil a superior place in derogation of Ph.D. that is highly unnatural, untenable, unreasonable and arbitrary.
It is further brought out that said short listing criteria assigning weightage/preferential treatment to M.Phil. in one manner or other seems to be unwarranted and undesirable as far as discipline of Law is concerned, keeping in view the fact that, no University (whether State or Private or Deemed) or any other Institute in and around Haryana offers M.Phil Course in Law.
Dr. RAJENDER GOYAL