PhD degree holders protest govt move to follow UGC guideline

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 20

Under the aegis of the All India PhD Degree Holders Association, PhD degree holders of 2009 and before held a candlelight march here on yesterday in protest against the Uttarakhand government decision to follow the UGC regulation 2009 guidelines in totality, thereby rendering their PhD degrees useless.

The protesters held the candlelight march from Gandhi Park to Clock Tower. They said while Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Odissa and other states had honoured PhD degrees awarded in 2009 and earlier, the Uttarakhand government was following the UGC regulation 2009 guidelines rendering their PhD degrees invalid, which amounts to injustice.

Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University Teachers Association members also came to Gandhi Park and extended support to the protesting association members. President of the association Dr Sandeep Negi said the UGC regulation should be enforced after 2009 as there was no point in nullifying PhD degrees awarded in 2009 and earlier.

As per the UGC 2009 guidelines, a PhD holder can apply for a post of assistant professor if has done a pre-PhD course or cleared the PhD entrance test. As this was not in practice during those days, PhD degrees awarded in 2009 and earlier stand invalidated. Dr Prashant Singh, Dr Harish Joshi, Dr Preeti Handa and Dr Manisha Uniyal took part in the candlelight march.