Dear Sir/Madam, Since 2008 when UGC has exempted M Phil holders from Ph D and NET to be an Assistant Professor in universities and colleges, it has become a never ending saga for both student and the stakeholders. UGC as an authoritative body in this case has failed to come to a right conclusion. They have again and again formulating new rules and putting job aspirants in trouble. When UGC has exempted M Phil & Ph D holders from NET, universities, especially in Tamil Nadu have come forward to offer M Phil degree in large numbers without following any of the UGC’s guidelines in offering M Phil degrees. Throughout the year they have admitted students for M Phil degree. This has resulted in large number of M Phil and Ph D holders (1,000 Ph.D degrees have been awarded by Tamil Nadu universities in the last one year, The Hindu). The selection of guides for M Phil degree was done in very hasty manner and anybody having Ph Ds have become guides and have fixed certain amount of money to be guides for the M Phil students. Projects were duplicated and submitted to the most of the Tamil Nadu universities. Without examining the duplication of the project reports and the credibility of the guides, they have literally sold M Phil degrees in market. By the time UGC realized the degrading quality of the M Phil degrees awarded by the many of the Tamil Nadu universities, large numbers of M Phil holders have awarded degrees and in some universities even Ph Ds were also awarded. UGC came up with new regulation that NET and Ph D to be remained compulsory for appointing assistant professor in universities and colleges (Minimum qualifications for the appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges and measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education 2010). But once again UGC’s exempted M Phil holders those who have obtained M Phil degrees on or before July 2009. This has put NET qualified candidates in trouble. In a recent report published in the Hindu newspaper (2010, October 25), it has been found through Right to Information Act that none of the 54 appointments made in recent years by one of the universities in southern Tamil Nadu possessed NET qualification. Further the report revealed that 1,000 Ph.D degrees have been awarded by Tamil Nadu universities in the last one year. But, only the University of Madras and Bharathiyar University have submitted soft copies of one thesis each for the INFLIBNET depository. To add much to the chagrin, UGC has proposed to exempt all M Phil holders from qualifying NET examination. But the HRD ministry has rejected the proposal (UGC plan to dilute norms for lecturers rejected (UGC plan to dilute norms for lecturers rejected - The Times of India, 2010, November 10). This has exposed the UGC’s duality and lack of commitment in formulating rules for appointing teachers in universities and colleges. ------------------------- With best wishes Vasantha Raju N GFGC-Periyapanta Mysore -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.