Teachers' association calls for implementation of UGC regulations

The Chandigarh Aided Colleges Teachers Association (CACTA) has submitted a detailed representation to the Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of India, and to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, seeking urgent implementation of the UGC Regulations, 2018, and enhancement of the superannuation age from 60 to 65 years for teachers working in privately managed government-aided colleges of the UT.

The CACTA clarified that the reference to the Punjab Government’s consent regarding enhancement of the retirement age in Panjab University was not relevant to Chandigarh’s aided colleges. “These colleges are not under the Punjab Government’s administrative or financial control. Instead, they receive 95 per cent grant-in-aid directly from the Central Government through the Chandigarh Administration, thereby placing them within the framework of central-funded institutions for regulatory purposes,” read a CACTA statement.

The association also stated that the UGC Regulations, 2018, which govern service conditions, recruitment, promotions (CAS), and retirement norms for the higher education faculty, were fully applicable in Chandigarh.

“The Central Government-funded institutions follow a superannuation age of 65 years for teaching faculty. Service conditions prescribed under the UGC Regulations, 2018, are binding on all institutions receiving Central assistance. Panjab University has already implemented the UGC Regulations, 2018, for aided colleges under its jurisdiction and has granted promotions accordingly, reaffirming the applicability of these norms to Chandigarh’s aided colleges. However, despite this, aided colleges in the UT are still operating under outdated guidelines, resulting in a regulatory disparity and causing hardship to the teaching community,” the CACTA secretary.

The association demanded implementation of the UGC Regulations in totality for Chandigarh’s aided college and enhancement of the age of superannuation from 60 to 65 years, as mandated for institutions funded by the Central Government.