Shimla: Representatives of teachers’ associations from major public universities of Himachal Pradesh, including Himachal Pradesh University (HPU)-Shimla, Palampur Agricultural University, Solan Forestry and Industrial University and Sardar Patel University-Mandi, met on Tuesday to seek redressal of various issues concerning university faculty.
The meeting culminated in the formation of a joint action committee (JAC) to present their collective demands to the state government.
The JAC elected Professor Janardan Singh from Palampur Agricultural University as its president and Professor Nitin Vyas from Himachal Pradesh University as the general secretary.
Professor Balbir Singh (Solan Forestry University) and Dr Sunil (Sardar Patel University) were chosen as vice-presidents, Dr Amit G. (Veterinary Sciences, Palampur) as joint secretary, Dr Ritika (Himachal Pradesh University) treasurer and Dr Joginder Saklani (Himachal Pradesh University) and Dr Anil Verma (Solan Forestry University) as advisers.
The JAC aims to represent all university teachers in the state and collectively address their demands. During the meeting, teachers expressed dissatisfaction with several government policies, the main being the following:
Stalled promotions under CAS
Teachers criticised the government’s 2022 notification halting promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). They argued that despite meeting eligibility criteria, many teachers have been denied their due promotions, negatively impacting university rankings and the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) grading. The JAC urged the government to revoke the notification and reinstate CAS.
Pending UGC pay arrears
The UGC’s revised pay scale was implemented in 2022 for university teachers in Himachal Pradesh, effective from 2016. However, arrears from 2016 remain unpaid. The JAC emphasised that resolving this issue is critical for faculty welfare.
Salary deduction for in-service PhDs
A recent government decision to deduct 40% of salaries for teachers applying for leave to pursue in-service PhDs was deemed unjust and demotivating. The JAC demanded the immediate withdrawal of this decision.
The JAC resolved to meet Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in the near future to present their concerns. “The decisions taken by the government are against the interest of teachers and ultimately affect the quality of education and research,” said general secretary Nitin Vyas in a statement.
The committee warned that failure to address their demands could lead to further action. “Teachers are the backbone of the education system and their issues must be addressed promptly,” added JAC president Janardan Singh.
