Panjab University teachers reject UGC regulations

CHANDIGARH - The Panjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) has rejected new rules issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) which nullify promotions of 40 faculty members.

The new UGC regulations, dated June 30, 2010, stipulate that those teachers who became eligible for promotion after December 31, 2008 under the UGC guidelines of 2000, will now be promoted under the new rules.

“This decision of UGC will affect nearly 40 teachers. There are many who have already been promoted and joined their duties. It’s totally irrational to demote them and ask them to go through the same procedure again,” Akshaya Kumar, PUTA secretary, told IANS Saturday.

“In an earlier interim order, UGC had stated that previous regulations would remain operative till new regulations come into force. The sudden change in stance of the UGC has nonplussed all,” he added.

PUTA has decided to constitute a committee to prepare a report on various issues that go against the interests of the teachers in the new UGC Regulations, 2010.

Panjab University (PU), established in 1882 at Lahore, is one of the oldest universities in India.

PUTA representatives met varsity vice-chancellor R.C. Sobti Saturday and urged him to intervene in the issue.

“Sobti has assured PUTA that the interests of the teachers would be taken care of. He said that the university has already approached UGC and sought clarification on promotion cases pending for approval before the syndicate,” a PUTA official said.

“He assured that teachers would not suffer on any account under the new UGC Regulation, 2010,” he added.