Hundreds of graduates from Gurugram University are confronting an unexpected and severe career obstacle. A crucial omission on the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recruitment portal has rendered them ineligible to apply for nearly 100 government job openings, sparking outrage and demands for immediate rectification.
Administrative Oversight Blocks Career Paths
The crisis emerged when the CBSE issued a recruitment notice on December 2, inviting applications for various posts including assistant secretary, accountant, and assistant professor. The online application window is set to close on December 22. However, candidates who hold degrees from Gurugram University found themselves unable to proceed. The university, established by the Haryana government in 2017, is conspicuously absent from the dropdown list of recognised universities on the CBSE portal.
This is particularly ironic because Gurugram University holds jurisdiction over several colleges in Gurgaon and neighbouring areas that were previously affiliated with Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak. While MDU is listed as an accepted institution, its successor, Gurugram University, is not. This has left a large number of students, many from rural parts of the National Capital Region, in a precarious position after pursuing higher education there.
Students Left in the Lurch, Authorities Unresponsive
One affected candidate, G Kartik Dabas (24), revealed that at least 90 applicants he knows are impacted. Dabas, who secured first division in BA Political Science from Guru Dronacharya Government College (affiliated to Gurugram University), shared his ordeal. “Those who tried to apply under MDU had their applications rejected and their IDs blocked,” he alleged. His attempts to seek clarification met with bureaucratic hurdles. “When we went to the CBSE office, we were told to seek an appointment. At the university, they said exams are on and asked us to come later,” Dabas explained, highlighting the logistical difficulty for applicants spread across southern Haryana.
When contacted by The Indian Express, Gurugram University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sanjay Kaushik stated he was not initially aware of the issue but assured prompt action. “We will write to them and work with CBSE and any authorities as required to fix the problem,” he said. Efforts to reach the CBSE spokesperson for a comment were unsuccessful.
Panchayat Body Calls it a Constitutional Violation, Demands Action
The Delhi Panchayat Sangh, a body representing rural populations from the Capital and nearby areas, has intervened. Its President, Than Singh Yadav, condemned the lapse, stating it affects a large number of students from rural backgrounds. “This is not just an administrative oversight but a violation of the constitutional right to equal opportunity,” he asserted. The Sangh has written to the Ministry of Education and the CBSE, demanding urgent resolution but has received no response so far.
The body has put forth a set of clear demands to mitigate the crisis and prevent its recurrence:
- Immediate addition of Gurugram University to the CBSE recruitment portal.
- Reopening of the application window for candidates who could not apply due to the omission.
- Ensuring an updated list of all recognised universities in future recruitment drives.
- Fixing accountability on officials responsible for the lapse.
The situation underscores a critical gap in coordination between state universities and central recruitment bodies, with real consequences for the employment prospects of qualified youth. All eyes are now on the CBSE and the Ministry of Education to act before the December 22 deadline, ensuring these candidates are not unfairly deprived of their chance at government employment.
