Recruitment Scam at Rabindranath Tagore University: Another Shocking Malpractice Unveiled!

After the recent expose of a massive recruitment scam at Tripura University, where the Vice-Chancellor faced serious allegations of corruption, yet another university in the Northeast has found itself in the eye of a storm. This time, it is Rabindranath Tagore University, Hojai, Assam, where blatant malpractices in the recruitment process have raised serious concerns about transparency and fairness.

A Scam in Broad Daylight?

Ordinarily, applicants for the post of Assistant Librarian in any university are charged a nominal application fee between ₹500-₹1500. However, Rabindranath Tagore University shockingly demanded ₹3000—double or even triple the standard amount. This alone raised eyebrows, but what followed was an outright mockery of a fair selection process.

As per standard recruitment procedures, universities first screen all applications, then publish a list of selected candidates for the interview, along with a list of rejected applications with reasons, on their official website. However, in this case, Rabindranath Tagore University completely bypassed this crucial step for the post of Assistant Librarian. No list was published, no transparency was maintained, and no official date for the interview was announced.

A Secretive Interview, A Disguised Selection Process

With over 50-80 applicants having applied for the post, the expectation was that a fair number of candidates would be invited for the interview. Shockingly, only 9-10 candidates were secretly shortlisted. The rest of the applicants kept checking the university website, hoping for an official announcement of the interview date—which never came.

And then, the ultimate revelation: The interview had already been conducted! (No official announcement is made by the university till 26th March that the interview is conducted or Assistant Librarian is selected).

Unethical Last-Minute Intimation

If this wasn’t shocking enough, what followed was even worse. The interview was conducted on 25th February 2025 at IIT Guwahati, but one of the candidates from Upper Assam was only informed about the interview on 24th February at 5:40 PM—less than 24 hours before the interview! This deliberate last-minute intimation raises serious suspicions of foul play.

Who Were the Real Beneficiaries?

This leads to the all-important question: Was the recruitment process just a sham to favor pre-determined candidates? Were these 9-10 shortlisted individuals handpicked beforehand, while other deserving applicants were deliberately kept in the dark? If so, this would be nothing short of a recruitment scam, a gross misuse of power, and a betrayal of the principles of meritocracy and fairness in higher education.

To make matters worse, a fresh candidate with little to no experience was ultimately selected over highly qualified and experienced applicants. This blatant disregard for merit further confirms suspicions that the entire process was rigged to favor a chosen candidate.

Call for Immediate Investigation!

The recent revelations from Tripura University had already exposed how corruption is thriving within the recruitment process of universities. Now, Rabindranath Tagore University seems to be following the same unethical path. This blatant manipulation of a hiring process should not go unchallenged. The authorities, media, and concerned stakeholders must demand an immediate and impartial investigation.

Higher education institutions are meant to be centers of knowledge, fairness, and integrity, not dens of corruption and favouritism. If such recruitment malpractices are left unchecked, it will set a dangerous precedent for the future of academic hiring in India.

It’s time to expose the truth, demand accountability, and ensure justice for the deserving candidates!