MUMBAI, Oct. 8 -- For the first time, the state government has introduced a structured and transparent marking system for the recruitment of teachers and statutory officers in state public universities. The Higher and Technical Education Department has issued a new Government Resolution (GR) dated October 6, outlining procedures to ensure fairness in the selection process. Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said that this step would make the recruitment process more credible across all public (non-agricultural) universities in the state. The new procedure lays out a 100-mark evaluation system for various statutory positions. The marks will be based on documents and interviews, and the final merit list will be prepared using the average score given by the selection committee members. Importantly, the GR mandates recording the selection committee meetings. These have to be sealed and signed by all members to maintain confidentiality and integrity. Results must be announced on the same day or the following day after the completion of interviews. Professor Kushal Mude, national convenor of the All India NET and SET Teachers Organisation, welcomed the move. "This is a good step for aspiring candidates," he said, adding that it however is an injustice to NET and SET qualified candidates, as the weightage for NET plus SET is only six marks, whereas the weightage for a PhD is 20. "We are writing to the ministry to request that twenty marks be given to those who qualify for both NET and SET."Niraj Pandit...