Academicians and politicians have taken strong exception to Goa University Vice Chancellor Prof. Harilal B. Menon’s “irresponsible” statement that the 15-year domicile clause was the main reason for the University’s drop in national rankings.
According to Prof. Menon’s statement to a section of the press, the university’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 rankings are based on cumulative data from 2020 to 2023, across five parameters: teaching-learning resources (30%), research and professional practice (30%), graduation outcomes (20%), outreach and inclusivity (10%), and perception (10%).
Despite these metrics, the university has failed to break into the top 100 in recent years, slipping from rank 101 in 2023 to the 151–200 band in the NIRF 2024 rankings released by the Union Ministry of Education.
Reacting sharply to the Vice Chancellor’s claim that the 15-year domicile clause was affecting Goa University’s performance, former Principal Prabhakar Timble called the statement "irresponsible."
He said, “The Vice Chancellor and Goa University show no accountability. He highlights the domicile clause but ignores all other factors. What is his motive?”
Timble recalled that earlier there was a belief in Goa that external candidates were more meritorious than locals. “But that perception has changed over the last decade. Goans are now excelling in various fields,” he added.
Timble further stated, “Goa University has full autonomy to recruit on merit within the set parameters. The domicile clause is the bare minimum expected today. Has the VC even studied domicile norms of other States? This is a weak excuse. If the university has failed to develop its own talent pool, that itself is a serious failure—not the domicile clause. The clause must stay.”
Goa Forward Party general secretary Prashant Naik also criticized Prof. Menon, accusing him of misleading the public. “His claim that the domicile requirement has harmed the university’s ranking is a blatant lie. He is systematically sidelining Goan scholars,” Naik alleged.
He claimed there are many qualified Goan researchers at the university who have published extensively in reputed journals, whereas some faculty members hired from outside the state have “little to no academic output.” He alleged this revealed a pattern of appointing non-Goans without merit.
Goa University Teachers’ Association (GUTA) president Prof. Ramrao Wagh added that the VC’s suggestion to review recruitment clauses, including the domicile condition, to improve rankings has sent the wrong message.
“It implies that faculty appointed under the domicile clause are not contributing to the university’s ranking, which is false and damaging,” Wagh said.
He emphasized that all faculty, regardless of domicile status, have worked together as a team and contributed significantly to higher education in Goa. “Attempts to divide faculty or make defamatory claims will not be tolerated,” he said.
He further challenged those alleging that some faculty have minimal research output to present evidence. GUTA is seeking an appointment with the Vice Chancellor to discuss the matter and gain clarity on his remarks.