Hyderabad: About 12 government universities in the State on Thursday observed a complete shutdown in response to the bandh call given by the Telangana Universities Contract Assistant Professors Joint Action Committee. Academic activities were suspended, classes were boycotted, and administrative offices remained closed throughout the day as part of the protest.
The contract teachers called for bandh in response to the arrests of contract assistant professors who staged a protest demanding regularisation of their services at the TGCHE here on Wednesday.
Stating that the regularisation process might take time, the teachers wanted immediate announcement of a basic pay, DA, HRA and three percent annual increment.
Despite consistently raising these demands over the past 15 months, the State government failed to address teachers’ concerns, said Dr D Dharmateja, convener Telangana Universities Contract Assistant Professors JAC.
“Instead, the government has taken a regressive step by unilaterally issuing Government Order No. 21, which undermines our contributions and jeopardises our livelihoods,” he added.