Mumbai University email embarrasses candidates

A faux pas by the University of Mumbai had caused it a lot of embarrassment after a confidential email sent to interviewees for vacant posts informing them of postponement of the interview went out to all of them en masse. Candidates have alleged that as their identity has been revealed their competitors will misuse it to try and get the job ahead of them.

The problem started after the university received applications for various vacant teaching posts in different departments in response to advertisements it had placed in newspapers till December 22. As per the procedure, the applicants were to be interviewed after that however, due to the unavailability of officials, the interviews had to be postponed to a later date.

“As per protocol, the shortlisted candidates were sent individual emails informing them of the date of the interview. However, a day before the interview was to be held, a single email addressed to all the candidates was sent out informing them about the postponement. This move exposed the names of all the candidates which resulted in each candidate knowing who they were pitted against,” said an official requesting anonymity.

Aspiring candidates were upset by this development and approached the university complaining of the faux pas that could lead to their interviews being compromised. “The application was confidential and the entire process was supposed to be kept under wraps. However, now that each candidate knows who has applied it has compromised our positions both in our respective departments and colleges too. The information can be misused by vested interests and such an unprofessional approach by the university has jeopardised the careers of many applicants,” said an applicant.

However, the university said that there was nothing wrong in a single email going out to all the candidates.

“The interviews were postponed at the eleventh hour due to some technical and administrative problem. As many applicants were coming from out of Mumbai it was necessary to inform them of the postponement at the earliest, hence a single mail was sent out to all of them. The objections of the applicants are unfounded as many organisations put up the list of candidates shortlisted for interviews on their website and there is no secrecy in that, hence the grouse of the candidates is not valid,” said Dr M.A. Khan, registrar, MU.