Sudhanshu Sharma
Shimla/Dharamshala
The Himachal Pradesh University Teachers’ Welfare Association (HPUTWA) continued its peaceful protest today against the proposed teacher recruitment bill at the Himachal Pradesh University campus. The association reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding academic and institutional autonomy, teacher dignity, and the core values of higher education.
HPUTWA announced that a delegation will soon meet the Governor to formally present the concerns of the teaching community and register objections to the proposed recruitment system. The association emphasized that preserving university autonomy is essential for maintaining academic quality and an independent intellectual environment.
Senior professors and faculty members from HPU, along with teachers from UILS, UIT, UCBS, PG Centre, CDOE, and the Evening Centre, actively participated in the protest. They expressed solidarity with HPUTWA’s demands, stressing that the issue extends beyond recruitment procedures to encompass academic freedom, administrative independence, educational standards, and professional dignity.
HPUTWA President Prof. Nitin Vyas reiterated that teacher recruitment is a vital component of academic governance and must respect subject expertise and scholarly qualifications. Dr. Ashok Bansal highlighted the need to balance transparency and accountability with institutional autonomy, while Dr. Sanjay Sharma underscored that universities are centers of knowledge, research, and innovation — not mere administrative offices.
The protest also resonated in Dharamshala, where faculty at the Regional Centre voiced similar concerns, demanding protection of academic and institutional independence. HPUTWA noted that participation from multiple centers and institutions is giving the movement wider strength.
The association clarified that its protest is not directed against any individual or political party, but is a collective effort to defend academic freedom, teacher dignity, and the autonomous identity of Himachal Pradesh University. HPUTWA stated that until the concerns of the teaching community are adequately addressed, its peaceful and democratic protest will continue.
