Alleged violation of UGC norms in Principals’ appointment

 Finance Department seeks more time to file affidavit

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court had ordered the Higher Education Department, Assam, as well as the State Finance Department to file affidavits to clarify their stand regarding provincialization of the services of Principals of 35 colleges in the State although they did not have the requisite eligibility specified by the University Grants Commission (UGC) during the time of provincialization of their services. The Finance Department has now sought further time of two weeks to file the affidavit.

A writ petition (WP(C)/2889/2015) had been filed in Gauhati High Court on May 7, 2015, in which the petitioner alleged that a large number of teachers without having the requisite eligibility criteria as prescribed by the UGC were considered and allowed by the Higher Education Department to hold the posts of Principal under the provisions of the Assam Venture Educational Institutions (Provincialization of Services) Act, 2011 and the Assam Education (Provincialization of Services of Teachers and Re-organization of Educational Institutions) Act, 2017. Such persons were also appointed as regular Principals of 35 provincialized colleges of the State.

The petitioner further alleged that the Principals of these 35 provincialized colleges, during the time of provincialization of their services, did not have the requisite 15 years of teaching experience as Associate Professor and/or as Professor. Despite not having the requisite eligibility of 15 years of teaching experience as specified in the UGC regulations, they received regular scale of pay as regular Principals of provincialized colleges.

The court directed the Higher Education Department as well as the Finance Department to file affidavits and clarify their stand regarding provincialization of services of Principals of these 35 colleges and paying them regular Scale of Pay from the public exchequer although they did not have the requisite UGC specified eligibility during the time of provincialization of their services.

Although the court order was passed on February 23, 2023, the Finance Department has not submitted the affidavit and now it has sought further time of two weeks to file the affidavit.

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