Shiksha Parv approaching, 66 govt colleges sans principals

DDO powers assigned to senior teachers

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“At least 66 of 138 government colleges in Himachal Pradesh do not have principals. In these colleges, the Directorate of Higher Education has assigned the DDO powers to senior teachers to draw and disburse the monthly salaries. How can a senior colleague as DDO control the working of his fellow colleagues in such a situation,” HGCTA vice-president

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 22

Around 48 per cent posts of principal in government colleges in the state are lying vacant. The Himachal Pradesh Government College Teachers Association (HGCTA) has alleged that so many vacant posts of principal are affecting the general administration of government colleges.

ND Jasrotia, vice-president of the association, in a press note issued here, said that the regular online teaching of second and third year students of government colleges had started on August 16. “At least 66 of 138 government colleges in Himachal Pradesh do not have principals. In these colleges, the Directorate of Higher Education has assigned the DDO powers to senior teachers to draw and disburse the monthly salaries. How can a senior colleague as DDO control the working of his fellow colleagues in such a situation,” he added.

Jasrotia said that it was for the first time that such a situation had arisen in colleges. Senior teachers assigned the DDO powers had to take routine classes, besides looking after the day-to-day office affairs.

He said that on the one hand, the government would celebrate Shiksha Parv on the completion of one year of the implementation of the New Education Policy-2020 on September 8, on the other, 48 per cent posts of college principals were vacant.

The government had not convened even one Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting since July 2018 for college principals. Many eligible teachers had superannuated without getting their due one-time promotion in their lifetime and the principals already holding the post were retiring every month, the association stated.

“There are only a handful of Grade A government colleges in the state. Most of other government colleges have either not applied for accreditation or do not fulfill the requirements due to the lack of infrastructure and a regular principal. While 66 government colleges are without principals, 19 colleges have officiating heads. The remaining 53 institutions have regular principals. Of these 53 institutions at least the principals of four colleges are going to retire by the year end,” said Dr RL Sharma, general secretary, HGCTA.