PU-affiliated college heads to retire at 60

Amarjot Kaur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 16

Two controversial issues, which figured on the supplementary agenda of the previous Syndicate meeting but were not discussed then, met their fate in the meeting held today.

Unanimously, the Syndicate has decided to revoke its 2014 decision regarding the contractual appointment of principals at PU’s constituent and affiliated colleges. On the eligibility criteria for the appointment of principals in degree and education colleges in view of the UGC regulations and NCTE norms, now no one from an education college will be appointed as principal in a degree college. In this regard, a committee of Syndicate members will be formed. The members will submit a report in the next Syndicate meeting, where a final decision on the matter will be taken.

Contractual appointment of principals

With regard to the appointment of principals on a contract basis in constituent colleges as well as in affiliated colleges, the decision of the Syndicate, dated May 18, 2014 (Para 45), stands rescinded with immediate effect. Henceforth, all principals will retire at the age of 60 years. However, those already appointed and covered in the said rule will continue. Since 2014, principals who had completed the age of 60 could be re-employed on contract for two years, then again for two years and then one year, subject to availability. However, this rule has been rescinded with immediate effect.

In May 2014, the Syndicate deliberated on the recommendations of a committee meeting convened on May 6, 2014, regarding qualifications and other terms and conditions for the appointment of principals in PU constituent colleges as well as in the affiliated colleges on a contract basis from among retired principals beyond the age of 60 years.

At that time, Principal Gurdip Sharma suggested that initially, the appointment of principals on a contract basis in PU’s constituent as well as affiliated colleges should be for two years instead of one year as recommended by the committee.

Dr Dinesh Talwar said the appointment of principals on a contract basis in PU’s colleges should be allowed to be made after giving proper advertisement, while Dr Preet Mohinder Pal Singh enquired whether principals appointed on a contract basis could shift/join in unaided colleges or not.

It was assured that the period of appointment of principals on a contract basis was for one year, which would be replaced with two years. The Syndicate resolved that the recommendations of the committee be approved with modifications that the appointment of principals on a contract basis in the constituent colleges as well as affiliated colleges should be made for two years after giving proper advertisement in leading newspapers.

Eligibility criteria for principals’ appointment

Now, no one from education colleges will be appointed principal in a degree college. The Syndicate has resolved to form a committee of Syndicate members, which will submit a report in the next Syndicate meeting where a final decision on the matter will be taken.

Commenting on the issue, Syndic Ashok Goyal said: “If a person from an education college is not eligible to be appointed as an assistant professor in a degree college, how can he be entitled to be made the principal of a degree college?”

Keeping in view the UGC and the NCTE norms, a proposal regarding the eligibility for the appointment of principals was made.

The proposal states that teachers from degree colleges are not eligible for the appointment of principals in education colleges as the norms for the appointment of principals in education colleges are altogether different from those of degree colleges. Similarly, the norms for the appointment in degree colleges are not being met with by principals and teachers of education colleges as they teach subject of ‘teaching in education’ but they have not taught any subject as such.

In a meeting convened on April 8, 2016, it was approved that for the post of principals in education colleges, certain qualifications were required. First, a minimum of 55 per cent marks in the post-graduate degree; second, a minimum of 55 per cent marks in MEd; third, a PhD in education; fourth, teaching/professional experience (eight years in secondary teacher education institution for BEd and 10 years of professional experience in teaching education for MEd course) in the teaching education to be considered and followed as per the NCTE regulations already adopted by the PU.