Srinagar- The contractual lecturers of Jammu & Kashmir have sought intervention from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to address delays in their joining orders to various colleges across the UT.
The contractual lecturers have written a letter to the LG with a hope that the administration will listen to their demands.
In the letter, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Observer, to the Lieutenant Governor, the lecturers have alleged that the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has stalled their appointments.
“We, the contractual lecturers aspiring to serve in various colleges across Jammu and Kashmir, find ourselves in a state of distress and uncertainty due to the prolonged delay in our appointments. Despite fulfilling all the necessary requirements and submitting applications for contractual positions over two months ago, approximately 2,500 to 3,000 highly qualified youth like us are still awaiting directions from the concerned authorities to join our respective colleges,” the letter states.
“Our counseling process commenced on the 16th of August, and we were allotted colleges based on merit. However, following the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), we were informed that our joining would require permission from the Election Commission of India (ECI). Since then, we have been consistently reaching out to the ECI through emails and phone calls. Unfortunately, we have been repeatedly told that the Nodal Principal of Jammu & Kashmir has not forwarded the necessary documentation through the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO-JK),” It adds.
The candidates also alleged that their counterparts in Cluster Universities were permitted to join even after the implementation of the MCC, raising concerns about why the same policy does not apply to us.
“The delay in our joining seems to be a deliberate tactic to compel us into taking extreme steps, including resorting to protests, to have our legitimate demands addressed,” a candidate said.
The absence of faculty has been particularly problematic as the new academic session commenced on August 12, 2024. The shortage has forced colleges to assign inappropriate faculty to subjects outside their expertise, resulting in concerns over the adequacy of educational standards. Last year, similar issues were noted at Government Degree College Baramulla, where faculty were required to teach subjects beyond their specialization.
Candidates alleged that the administration is resorting to dilly delaying tactics.
“If colleges have been allotted to the contractual faculty why aren’t we allowed to join, our families are suffering because of us as we have no other jobs,” said Ishaq Pir, another candidate.
Another contractual lecturer waiting for his joining order said that if the colleges are allotted then why are we kept waiting for our lives, we fail to understand how colleges are functioning in absence of the contractual faculty as there is staff deficit, the government should think about the future of students as well as the faculty.
Pertinently, the aspirants fulfilled all requirements and underwent a counseling process that began on August 16.
Kashmir Observer tried to contact Nodal Principal Jammu & Kashmir Seema Naz for comment but despite repeated requests, she did not respond.
The lecturers also urged the Lieutenant Governor to expedite their appointments and ensure alignment with UGC guidelines regarding salary parity.
They pinned hope that the LG administration would listen to what they called their genuine demands.
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