No guest faculty to be appointed at PU’s six constituent colleges

Amarjot Kaur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 16

In a recent development, the Syndicate has resolved that no guest faculty will be appointed in the six constituent colleges of Panjab University, instead the appointments will be made on temporary basis as per the UGC's minimum salary.

A five-member committee, on August 13, reviewed the proposal of the faculty of Panjab University constituent colleges that alleged exploitation and harassment of the teaching staff. The committee comprised PU DUI Prof Shankarji Jha, PU Registrar Prof Karamjeet Singh, Secretary to PU VC Dr Muneeshwar Joshi, PU Finance and Development officer CA Vikram Nayyar and Deputy Registrar (Establishment Branch). 

The members were of unanimous opinion that since the working condition of PU constituent colleges are quite different than that of PU campus, it will be appropriate, if faculty members are appointed on contract basis in place of guest faculty. "This would resolve certain problems being faced by teachers appointed as guest faculty, like entitlement to leave, payment of salary if performed duty after summer vacation," read the minutes of the meeting.

The committee recommended in future, teachers of PU constituent colleges may be appointed on contract instead of guest faculty, the terms and conditions with regard to workload, entitlement to leave and summer vacation salary may be forwarded, as applicable to such appointment in Panjab University. It was also recommended that the payment of monthly honorarium of Rs 30,400 (fixed) may be given to teachers appointed on contract on a par with Panjab University.

The Secretary to VC listed the problems that could arise if the nomenclature of guest faculty is not changed to contract faculty. The main problems listed are: "Low ratio of faculty members at constituent colleges cannot be made members of administrative and technical committee. Since the payment of guest faculty is on lecture basis, they can't be asked to perform examination duty, which is a regular feature at such colleges and affects the work and employment of NET-qualified people."

Syndic Ashok Goyal opined, "University has six constituent colleges in various rural areas of Punjab, which are run by PU but are funded by the Punjab Government. There's no regular faculty in these colleges and they are being run mostly with the appointment of guest faculty, who are paid meagre salary ranging between Rs 8000 and Rs 20,000. While considering the item to appoint them on contract basis against the salary of 30,400 per month, I ask, why they should be exploited and why should there not be any appointment of faculty on temporary basis on a minimum salary as per UGC, which adds up to more than Rs 55,000 per month. The suggestion was approved unanimously."