Bengaluru: In a shocker to all the state university Vice Chancellors and Registrars, the state higher education department has barred them from taking up any new appointments- both teaching and non-teaching staff.

According to the latest circular issued by the state higher education department, all the state universities are directed not to proceed with any new appointments. Instead, they are directed to frame new appointment rules as per the latest guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

New UGC guidelines have brought several changes in the appointment process which include mandatory vigilance committees, document verification prior to the short listing of the candidates for the interview, single admission guidelines for all the state universities with in a state etc.

According to the sources in the state higher education department, new direction to all the state universities was issued based on a report submitted by the team of experts headed by former VC of Gulbarga University Prof. V B Cutino