TGCHE, State universities clash over contract faculty continuation beyond 60

Council's recent move to ask State universities to continue services of assistant professors on contract beyond superannuation age has not gone down well with the universities

Hyderabad: The Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) and State universities appear to be at odds over the continuation of services of contract teaching staff beyond the retirement age of 60 years.

The Council’s recent move to ask State universities to continue services of assistant professors on contract beyond superannuation age has not gone down well with the universities.

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While the regular teaching staff are mandated to retire at the age of 60 years, the TGCHE, a coordinating body between UGC, State government and universities, recently issued a circular asking the universities to allow assistant professors on contract to continue their tenure even after reaching 60 years.

Citing directions of the Education department, in a circular issued to the universities, the Council said the decision to retain services beyond the age of 60 years was in line with maintaining teaching standards and ensuring quality of higher education. It asked universities to examine each case individually.

The move came at a time when universities’ regular teaching staff have been demanding for superannuation at 65 years as per the UGC norms or till 63 years, if not on par with State employees at 61 years. The circular has not been well received by the universities, which questioned how two different service rules could be applied to the regular and contract teaching staff.

During a recent Vice Chancellors (VCs) conference organised by the TGCHE, the participating VCs, including OU, BRAOU and MGU, said to have objected to the circular.

The issue sprang up when one officer bearer of the Telangana Universities Teachers Association (Contract) who retired in the month of December sought continuation of services due to requirement in the department, citing TGCHE circular. However, it was learnt that the request was shot down by the university.

According to sources, a few VCs criticised the Council’s interference, arguing that universities were autonomous institutions. Some VCs, as per sources, felt that the varsities should only be provided suggestions and recommendations but not binding decisions.

The Council had only suggested the universities extend services of the contract teaching staff above 60 years by going through case individually and depending on the requirement in the departments, a senior official said, adding that it was VC’s prerogative whether or not to continue such services.