The Central University of Himachal Pradesh has decided to appoint an RSS pracharak as “professor of practice” under a national scheme that relaxes the requirements of academic degrees and publications for these posts.

Atul Kothari, national secretary of the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, will be professor of practice in Hindu studies. The Nyas is a self-appointed adviser to the government on curriculum reforms and has suggested the teaching of “Vedic mathematics” at schools, among other recommendations.

University registrar Suman Sharma said the decision to appoint Kothari was taken under the University Grants Commission’s Professor of Practice scheme, notified last year.

The scheme gives universities greater discretion in engaging professionals, mainly from industry, as professors of practice with the stated objective of gaining from their domain expertise.

Several teachers’ organisations had expressed fear last year that the scheme might be misused to allow people to enter academia on the strength of networking.

Like any other professor, a professor of practice can deliver lectures and give assignments. Unlike other professors, a professor of practice does not need to have earned a PhD or cracked the NET, or published papers in UGC-approved publications.

Distinguished people with proven expertise in their professions or roles, with at least 15 years of service or experience, preferably at a senior level, are eligible to be appointed as professors of practice.

To a question from this newspaper, registrar Sharma has written back saying Kothari has been selected keeping in mind his position in the Nyas and his interactions with multiple universities as an expert on the National Education Policy.

He also mentioned Kothari’s position as “sarankshyak” of the Bharatiya Bhasha Manch Ebong Bharatiya Bhasha Abhiyan and founder of the Shiksha Swasthya Nyas Ebong Dakshina Foundation.

Sharma also mentioned a list of papers by Kothari without saying where they had been published. He clarified that Kothari had been appointed on an honorary basis.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Kothari did not deny that he was an RSS pracharak.

“I have worked on the behavioural aspects of Hindutva. I have written on Bharatiya gyan parmpara (Indian traditional knowledge). The vice-chancellor requested me to take this position,” Kothari said.

He said he had received an honorary PhD from the Manav Rachna University in Haryana and an honorary DLitt from the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya. “I have attended 300 to 350 symposia in the country. I am part of the syllabus-making process of the NCERT,” he said.

Rajesh Jha, a faculty member at Rajdhani College under Delhi University, said the “professor of practice” scheme “opens the gate for subjectivity in appointments”.

A faculty member at a central university said RSS pracharaks should avoid accepting appointments as professors of practice, for these posts are meant mainly for experts from industry and other technical professions.

The scheme’s guidelines mention a wide range of domains from which professionals can be appointed, thus giving universities ample leeway. These domains include engineering, science, technology, entrepreneurship, commerce, social sciences, media, literature, fine arts, civil services, community development, panchayati raj, watershed development, water-harvesting, organic farming and public administration, among others.

“A formal academic qualification is not considered essential for this position if they have exemplary professional practice in lieu,” the guidelines say.