RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Aug 27: The Sidhu Kanhu Murmu University Service Teachers’ Association (SKMUSTA) has sent a letter to the secretary of the University Grant Commission asking for clarification on the UGC Public Notice that was released on December 7, 2018, claiming that it is unclear whether it applies to newly appointed teachers or to those who have already been appointed.
The notice issued on the above-mentioned date mentions five conditions to be fulfilled by those who have done PhD before July 11, 2009, for getting the benefit of non-compounded advance increments as also the benefit of a number of years required for promotion under the Consolidated Account Statement (CAS).
“In the Public Notice, the UGC has not clarified whether this Public Notice is applicable on existing teachers or on fresh appointments. If it applies on existing teachers, then from which date, because many issues of existing teachers in some states have not been resolved so far. For example, recently, the government of Jharkhand decided to review the UGC 6th Pay and agreed to pay non-compounded PhD/MPhil increments vide Resolution no. 305, dated 9.3.2022 with the condition that only those teachers would get benefits who fulfill the 5 points condition of the UGC Public Notice of 7.12.2018. Different Universities of the state have started following the diktat of the State government putting many teachers in most uncomfortable and humiliating situation. Their PhD degree is being examined after several years of service. As the duration of the 6th pay is between 1.1.2006 to 31.12.2015, it is extremely ridiculous that a Public Notice which came after this duration is being imposed on this,” the letter seeking clarification reads.
The letter also threatens UGC of legal action in the matter.
“This matter is likely to be challenged in the Jharkhand High court and it is very much likely that the UGC would be made a party to it and in that situation, UGC would be accountable before the court of law. In the light of above the UGC must clarify through a similar Public Notice if the Public Notice of 7.12.2018 is applicable on existing teachers from a retrospective date or on fresh appointments, e.g. from the date of issuance of UGC Regulation 2018 on ‘Minimum qualification for the appointment of teachers and other academic staff in Universities and colleges and measures for the maintenance of standard in higher education, 2018’, the letter further reads.
The letter has been signed by SKMUSTA president Vivekanand Singh and secretary Kala Nand Thakur.
