Chandigarh college teachers have renewed demands for fair service conditions and benefits, citing stalled promotions and “discriminatory” rules. Faculty from both government and privately-managed government-aided colleges in Chandigarh seek parity with central university employees and other Union Territory (UT) department staff. This unified push comes from the Chandigarh Aided College Teachers’ Association (CACTA) and the Chandigarh Government Colleges Teachers’ Association (CGCTA), representing nearly 770 teachers combined.
Teachers allege years of administrative delays. These delays have frozen promotions, withheld allowances, and created unequal service conditions. The colleges are affiliated with Panjab University, an “inter-state body corporate” funded by both central and Punjab governments.
Key Demands
The core of the dispute centers on two main implementations:
- University Grants Commission (UGC) 2018 Regulations: This includes provisions for pay and promotions.
- Central Civil Service (CCS) Rules: These rules were implemented for all other UT administration departments in 2022, but not for Panjab University Chandigarh-affiliated colleges.
Impact on Aided College Teachers
CACTA has accused the UT administration of neglecting their long-pending demands. The association states inaction has caused resentment and negatively impacted academic functioning.
“Our main demand is the complete implementation of UGC Regulations, 2018,” said Amitabh Dwivedi, CACTA secretary and a faculty member at DAV College, Chandigarh. Dwivedi confirmed Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions have been stalled since July 18, 2018 . Teachers also await release of pending dearness allowance and parity in house rent allowance (HRA).
Shamendra Singh Sandhu, an associate professor at DAV College, Sector 10, noted promotions have been frozen for over six years. “Teachers have been stuck at the same level despite fulfilling eligibility conditions,” Sandhu stated.
Aided college teachers also demand HRA as per central government employee norms. Other demands include a one-year probation with full salary and regularization, increased retirement age, and protection of past service benefits.
Concerns of Government College Teachers
The Chandigarh Government Colleges Teachers’ Association (CGCTA) has also pressed the UT administration for action. Their detailed letter seeks immediate implementation of UGC regulations and Central Civil Services (CCS) rules.
CGCTA’s letter references a March 2022 gazette notification. This notification, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, mandates that service conditions for UT employees must align with central government rules.
“The Chandigarh administration cannot choose which UGC rules to follow,” said Prashant Gaurav, CGCTA president. He added, “If a rule is adopted, it must be followed completely.” Central regulations, for instance, offer a significantly higher retirement age. Approximately 70 teachers in government colleges face delays in promotions and other benefits.
Gaurav explained, “CAS promotions have been pending since 2018 . Applications were invited, interviews were scheduled, but no final action was taken. This has caused serious financial loss to teachers.”
The association further demands implementation of a five-day work week. They point out that all central universities, Panjab University, and several Chandigarh UT offices already follow this schedule. “Government colleges are the only institutions where casual leave (CL) has been reduced to eight days without implementing a five-day work week,” Gaurav stated. He argues this violates UGC norms and affects research and academic output.
Student Support and Future Actions
CACTA reports that aided colleges in Chandigarh serve around 35,000 students. Many students have expressed solidarity with the teachers’ demands.
“We avoided boycotting exams to prevent losses,” said Sandhu. “Protests will start again when the new academic session begins if our issues are not resolved.”
Both teacher associations emphasize a preference for dialogue. However, they warn that continued inaction by the UT administration could escalate into intensified protests in the coming months.