A parliamentary panel has expressed strong disapproval of using the tag "Not Found Suitable (NFS)" to deny appointments and promotions to teachers from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). The panel considers this practice inappropriate.

In a related matter, the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has identified "irregularities and under-representation" of SCs and STs in the teaching staff of Delhi University (DU) over a four-year period, from 2020-21 to 2024-25. The committee observed that the representation of SC students was below the prescribed 15% quota, except in 2024-25, when it barely met the threshold. The representation of ST students was described as "dismal".

The committee, headed by BJP MP Faggan Singh Kulaste, has made recommendations to address these issues. To fill reserved vacancies for students, the panel suggested that cut-off marks should be reduced "significantly" until the seats are filled. The panel also pointed out that despite the university having 68 colleges, DU has only one SC/ST Cell, and that too "with meagre staff".

Highlighting "flaws" and "poor compliance with rules" in DU's faculty reservation roster system, the panel has recommended a study to examine redrawing the reservation rosters for the university's faculty with effect from July 1997, when post-based quota rosters came into existence for SCs and STs in DU. It also called for recalculating reserved vacancies, shortages, and backlogs based on this study.

During a visit to Delhi University in April, teachers submitted memorandums to the committee, highlighting vacancies in teaching posts under reserved categories and expressing concern over recruitment notices citing reasons such as “not found suitable” or “no candidate shortlisted”.

The committee has also addressed concerns regarding the affordability of course fees for SC and ST students and has suggested forming SC/ST central admissions grievance committees at both the college and university levels. It has recommended that the government waive all tuition fees and other charges, if necessary, to promote weaker sections of society.

In other news regarding teacher education and recruitment, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education has urged the government to fill nearly 10 lakh vacant teaching posts across the country, including in state-run schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. The committee, chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, has also strongly opposed hiring teachers on a contractual basis, noting that it undermines the constitutional provisions of reservation for SC, ST, and OBC communities in government jobs. The committee stated that “Appointments on contractual basis compromise both job security and social justice”.

Furthermore, a parliamentary committee has criticized the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) over vacant reserved posts, large backlogs in promotions, and low allotments of flats and commercial units to SCs and STs. The committee noted that 1,158 SC and 703 ST posts remain vacant across Groups A, B, and C, even as the DDA has halted recruitment. The committee dismissed the DDA's explanation of "non-availability of eligible candidates" as "cliche" and unjustified and recommended offering concessions to ensure promotion quotas are met.