New Delhi : The Delhi High Court has slapped a fine of Rs.10,000 on the University Grants Commission (UGC) for not responding to a notice on a lawsuit challenging the new eligibility conditions for lecturers.

A division bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Veena Birbal imposed the fine, noting the UGC has not filed its counter-affidavit despite an opportunity being granted. "The matter is of an urgent nature and yet the UGC has been negligent in placing the reply on record," the bench said. Granting the last opportunity, the court asked it to file the reply by Feb 17.

The court was Thursday hearing a petition filed by advocate K.C.Mittal on behalf of All India Researchers Coordination Committee challenging the 2009 regulation of changing the eligibility conditions for the post of lecturers.  According to the new regulation, only those who pass the National Eligibility Test (NET) would be eligible for the post of lecturer.

Challenging the new regulation, the petitioners said this was contrary to the 2006 regulation which held any one who acquired an M.Phil or Ph.D degree as eligible for the post of lecturer. Seeking relief for those who completed their M.Phil or PhD in 2009, the petitioner said that they are equally eligible for the post of lecturer.

-- IANS