SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 9: Hundreds of 2008 batch teachers working in seven universities of the state may get their due promotion after 10 years soon.
As per the UGC norms, the 2008 batch teachers should have been given their first promotion in four years (2012) and second promotion in five years (2017).
However, the promotion of these teachers has been stalled for the past ten years due to a lack of the 2010 regulation (statute) notification. Notably, the 2018 promotion regulation was published by the state government, while the 2010 regulation is still pending. Promotion for 2008 cannot be offered until the 2010 resolution is announced.
However, the secretary of the Federation of Universities Teachers Association of Jharkhand (FUTAJ) Dr Raj Kumar of Ranchi today said that the file regarding the promotion of 2008 batch teachers is being prepared for cabinet approval and would be cleared soon.
“The chief minister is serious about clearing this pending issue. Owing to the imposition of the election model code of conduct in the state, this issue is held up. After the Panchayat election, the notification of the 2010 resolution would be announced for promotion of the 2008 batch,” said the FUTAJ secretary.
Dr Rajkumar said that not only promotion but also the issue of PhD benefits pending in some universities would be cleared soon.
“The state government has issued notification for granting PhD benefits to teachers of universities as per UGC norms. First FUTAJ would mount pressure on universities for implementing the government letter. Later on, the teachers’ body would raise objectionable points with the state government and if needed would move the court for justice,” said Dr Rajkumar.
As per the revised UGC guidelines of the 6th pay commission, the teacher who would join with a PhD degree would get five non-compounded advance increments. The teacher, who attains a degree during service shall get three non-compounded advance increments. Similarly, M.Phil degree holders would get two non-compounded advance increments.
In the 5th pay scale of UGC, PhD holders were awarded 4 increments, those who completed the degree during service were given two increments and those with M.Phil were given one increment.
But in wake of additional chief secretary KK Khandewal’s notification (9-3-2022), some universities have explained that the teachers who have completed PhD after 1-1-2016 would not be given advance increments.
BBMKU vice-chancellor Dr Mukul Narayan Dev has reportedly sent the proposal to the Promotion Cell for implementation.
Teachers’ bodies of different universities, especially VBU Hazaribagh and BMMKU Dhanbad, are against it. BBMKU teachers’ association spokesperson Dr Jitendra Aryan said that secretary Dr Himanshu Shekhar Choudhary has requested the vice-chancellor to seek guidelines from the government if he feels any confusion in guidelines.
FUTAJ president Prof NK Singh (Dumka) admitted that government notification is vague and should be corrected.
