Punjabi University extends contract of assistant professors, instructors

Tribune News Service
Patiala, September 3

Punjabi University has now decided to extend contract of assistant professors and instructors of its affiliated institutes for six months in anticipation of the upcoming Syndicate meeting.

As such, as many as 183 contractual assistant professors and assistants of various university-affiliated colleges will continue working at their post for the next six months. The extension has been give from July 15 onwards. Earlier, contractual workers held protests on the campus demanding extension of their contracts without fresh interviews.

The university authorities said the decision was taken by the university Vice-Chancellor (VC), Dr BS Ghuman, keeping in view the upcoming Syndicate meeting.

Now, assistant professors will continue on their post till six months from July 15 onwards or till the post is filled on a regular basis.

Earlier, Syndicate members had pointed out that the university had a long-standing record of taking decisions in anticipation of the meeting. “Concern was raised over taking unilateral decisions without approval of the Syndicate. Taking decisions in anticipation of the Syndicate meeting is a backdoor approval for various matters,” said a Syndicate member.

No decision on next Syndicate meeting

While officials decided to hold Syndicate meeting within one month of the previous meeting, the university administration had yet to notify its next date. A prior notice of 14 days is given before the Syndicate meeting. University Vice-Chancellor BS Ghuman was not available for his comment on the issue.