Board of Finance to discuss grant of increments to PU assistant professors

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 21

Panjab University (PU) has placed the case of over 100 assistant professors of the university, who got enrolled for PhDs before the UGC Regulations of 2010 (effective from 2009) came into being, for grant of non-compounded increments before the Board of Finance (BoF). The BoF is meeting on November 28.

Assistant professors who have done PhDs before joining service are seeking five increments and those who did doctorate while in service are seeking three increments.

The Senate in its meeting held on September 29, 2013, had considered the recommendations of the Syndicate and allowed for grant of PhD increments. Accordingly, office orders were issued for 106 teachers.

But Resident Audit Officer put an objection on April 28, 2014, which pointed out that the teachers concerned had not done PhD by following the process of admission, registration, course work and external evaluation as prescribed by the UGC Regulations, 2010, effective from July 11, 2009.

Due to the non-release of increments, assistant professors went to the high court.

The PU filed an affidavit where it took a stand against the teachers.

But in the Syndicate meeting dated November 18, Senator Prof Navdeep Goyal raised the issue after which it was resolved that the PU would withdraw the reply.

He said even the UGC had been paying increments to assistant professors enrolled under the faculty recharge programme.

In the BoF agenda, the PU says, UGC’s latest clarification dated July 5, 2016, and July 11, 2016, says award of degrees to candidates registered for MPhil/PhD programme prior to July 11, 2009, will be governed by the provision of then existing ordinances or bylaws or regulations.

The PU had formed a committee on August 2 which recommended for relooking into the case after clarification from the UGC. Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover then again sent all cases to RAO for reconsideration.

He again said they had sought clarification from the UGC and increments could not be granted.

Earlier, Panjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) had pointed out that Guru Nanak Dev University, Central University of Jammu, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Directorate of Technical Education, Thiruvananthapuram, and Chandigarh Administration’s Higher Education Department have addressed the anomaly and awarded PhD increments to candidates registered before the UGC regulations of 2010 came into being.

BoF will also consider the allocation of Rs 50 lakh for the upgrade of operation theatre in the Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Science for the Department of Oral and Maxilofacial Surgery. The amount will be made available from the interest income of the ‘Foundation for Higher Education and Research Fund Account’.

BoF to reconsider VC’s recommendation

The Board of Finance will reconsider the recommendation of Vice-Chancellor that Registrar Col GS Chadha (retd) be granted two increments on the minimum pay of Rs 43,000 plus grade pay of Rs 10,000 in the pay band of Rs 37,400-Rs 67,000 with effect from the date of joining. The Syndicate had recommended the case on May 15, 2016. But RAO put an objection. After that, MHRD comments were sought. But it made certain observations which were later clarified. Finally, the MHRD on October 27 clarified that pay fixation of Colonel Chadha may be done in accordance with rules and regulations of the PU Act.