PUNJAB GOVERNMENT COLLEGE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (REGD)

Jaipal Singh General Secretary, Mobile- 9417477954, email-

To
The Hon'ble Minister,
Department of Higher Education,
Govt. of Punjab, Chandigarh.
Sub.:-Regarding promotion to the posts of Principals in Govt. Colleges as per DPC
meeting held on 23/09/2014
Sir,
It is respectfully submitted that even after more than 6 months of DPC meeting,the eligible persons are still waiting for appointment letters. Some of them have already retired without getting the onlychance of promotion in their entire service. On the insistence ofcertain vested interests,the state Govt. without any need, sought a clarification from UGC. The UGC vide its letter dated March11,2015,clarified two things:
-One, that the posts of principals are to be filled by direct recruitment only and there is no provision for promotion of Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors for appointment to the post of Principal.
-Two, the Professors are considered senior to Associate Professors and Associate Professors are considered senior to Assistant Professors as per Regulations dated 30.06 2010. There are many questions regarding this clarification. Firstly, was it really needed? Secondly,is it binding on the State Govt.? If yes, then, is the State Govt. going to fill all posts of Principals by direct recruitment only? Is it going to abolish 75% promotion quota? Can the State Govt. single out only one State Service where there is no promotion, whereas all other services have promotional avenues?

If the state Govt. retains 75% promotion quota and goes against the UGC clarification,
then, can it implement only the second clause regarding seniority and can it abandon its own rules and regulations regarding seniority and holding of DPC meetings for promotion? Whereas such rules and regulations are applicable to all departments. If it is so,will it not be a discrimination to almost all members of Punjab Educational Service (CollegeCadre), and an undue favour to only a few? So this UGC clarification is to be accepted or rejected as a whole. For the sake of illustration, may I request your goodself to have a glance at the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) applicable to us since 01.01.1986. As per Punjab Govt.notifications dated 12.01.1988 and 24.02.1989,there have been 3 categories of lecturers as follows:-
I) Lecturer in the pay scale of Rs 2200-4000
2) Lecturer(Senior scale)in the pay scale of Rs 3000-5000
3) Lecturer(Selection Grade)in the pay scale of Rs 3700-5700 and the number of years required to move from Lecturer to lecturer (senior scale) was 5 for PhD
degree holders, 7 for M Phil degree holders and 8 for others. But a PhD degree holder teacher going to senior scale or selection grade earlier than others was not entitled to seniority and a specific clause was mentioned in the orders of awarding senior scale /selection grade that mere placement in these scales does not affect inter-se seniority amongst the members of cadre.The same criterion of retaining seniority, irrespective of the scale was followed after grade revision w.e.f. 01.01.1996. In brief , CAS placements/ promotions do not disturb the seniority of members of PES (COLLEGE CADRE) governed byPESClassI and Class II Rules, 1976.

Therefore, the Re Designation of Associate Professors as Professors under CAS does not entitle them to seniority over others, since this has been the rule since the introduction of CAS w.e.f. 01.01.1986.Even the current UGC clarification adds a rider of its Regulations dated 30.06.2010, which have never been adopted in Toto, because we are still governed by provisions of Punjab CSR as far as leave rules ,allowances and retirement age etc. are concerned. For all intents and purposes, except for pay scales , CAS and allied conditions, we are mainly governed by Punjab Govt. rules and Regulations.Moreover,the demand of certain Ph D degree holders for their seniority and subsequent promotion as Principals vide C.M. No 11721of 2011 in CWP No 12398 of 2011 has already been rejected by the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court. DPI(C) office intimated its Seaking Order wrt C.O.C.P.No.1483/2011.Thus the persons Re-Designated as Professors have lost their case of seniority in the Hon’ble High Court, even before their Re-Designation.

You are kindly requested to issue appointment letters to all eligible teachers at the earliest, as per DPC meeting held on 23.09. 2014.
Yours Sincerely,

Jaipal Singh
General Secretary, Punjab GCTA
Copy to the following for information and necessary action, please
1.Principal Secretary Higher Education Chandigarh
2. DPI (COLLEGES) Punjab, Chandigarh