Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 9: Notwithstanding the vociferous opposition of Jammu University Teachers Association, the University Council- apex decision taking body of JU is all set to approve the controversial UGC amended regulation 2013 capping the total API score claimed by the teachers for promotion.
According to official sources, the Council meetings of Jammu University as well as Kashmir University, which are scheduled to be held separately on October 11, are likely to approve the amended regulation on capping as both the varsities have included the item in their respective agenda for the meeting on direction of the Governor House.
However, sources added, there is a difference between the language used by both the universities for recommending the item in their respective agenda.
While the language used by KU is very moderate suggesting that the amendment would be examined in the meeting of Deans for its liberal interpretation before implementation, the JU on the other hand is learnt to have proposed for adopting the regulation on capping with effect from October 11, sources explained.
“The Kashmir University Teachers Association had taken up the matter with the KU Vice Chancellor who assured us that he would try his best to convince the Council not to go for immediate implementation of the amendment as it adversely affects promotion prospects of the teachers,” informed JUTA president Prof Mohd Yousuf Ganai to the Excelsior on phone.
However, on the other hand, Jammu University Teachers Association (JUTA) is up in the arms against the University administration for its alleged anti-teachers attitude by being in haste over implementation of the amended regulation.
As per its announcement, the JUTA today began two-day strike and boycotted the class work besides observing a dharna in front of the Vice Chancellors’ Secretariat on the campus.
Addressing the dharna, JUTA president Prof J P Singh Joorel alleged that the Jammu University has shown exceptional interest for the implementation of amended guidelines without deliberating its effects on the teaching fraternity at any platform.
“UGC guidelines of capping should have been discussed within the University and then taken to the appropriate bodies for its adoption by giving sufficient time to the faculty members to get acquainted and accordingly pursue their teaching and research on the quality side,” he said.
Criticizing the University actions, other teachers, while speaking at the protest, denounced the pro-active approach of the University in implementing harsher part of the guidelines foresaking the provisions of the guidelines which are incorporated to provide incentives and give motivation to teachers to constantly raise the bar of efficiency in teaching and research.
Prof Dalip Singh Jamwal, who is the teacher representative in the University Council, assured the JUTA members that he would effectively see it that reservations of the teaching community on the matter will be put fourth before Council and the controversial amendment is not allowed to be implemented without serious deliberations within the university as it affects the quality of teaching and research in general and the career prospects of the teaching fraternity in particular which has already taken the toll because of the introduction of the API scheme.
Others who addressed the dharna, included Prof S K Khosa, Prof Yash Pal Sharma, Dr K S Charak, Dr Virender Koundal, Dr Ramni Gupta, Prof Abha Chouhan, Dr Vishwa Raksha, Dr P B K S Baba, Prof Taj-ud-Din, Dr Jaspal Singh.
As per the UGC amended regulation 2013, there will be capping in relation to the total API score claimed by the candidate for promotion. The capping over score on research papers, research publications, research projects, research guidance and training courses is 30 percent, 25 percent, 20 percent, 10 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
According to the teachers in JU as well as KU, majority universities, including JNU and Delhi University have not implemented the new regulation as there are some inherent flaws in the same.
Teacher associations in various universities are also learnt to have taken up the matter with their all India level body for approaching the UGC and seeking reconsideration of the controversial amendment.
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