Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Oct 17: Despite being governed by the University Grants Commission, (UGC), both the Agriculture Universities in Jammu and Kashmir are avoiding the revision of old statutes, which are still in vogue for the reasons best known to the Government and concerned authorities.
Failure of the universities in revising the old UGC statutes with new guidelines is not only adversely affecting promotion avenues of the faculty members but also standard of the institutions.
The situation can be gauged from the fact that the posts and rules governing scientific staff of Krishi Vigyan Kendras have not yet been incorporated in the university statutes even as more than 16 such KVKs are functional in Jammu and Kashmir. There is no mention of the posts of KVKs in the statutes.
Pertinent to mention that common statutes govern Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology, Jammu as well as Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology, Kashmir. As per the statutes, UGC pay scales govern the universities formulated at the time of establishment of SKUAST J&K in 1984.
In 2009, new pay scales were given to all the teaching and scientific staff of both the agriculture universities as well as Jammu University and Kashmir University as per the 6th UGC Pay Commission recommendations after approval of the Chancellor.
However, despite clear cut directions for implementation of 6th Pay Commission UGC rules also governing the appointment and promotion while getting revised grades, both the agriculture universities did not amend its statutes.
“The revised pay structure is strictly based on the grade to grade revision as prescribed in the MHRD notifications. The placement of the incumbents in the higher posts carrying higher grade pays or in the same band with higher academic grade pays on or after January 1, 2006, however, shall be strictly governed by the clause 2 under the captioned- Revised pay scales, Service Conditions and CAS for teachers and equivalent positions and other relevant guidelines of the MHRD,” said the order issued by then Commissioner Secretary Finance.
While both JU and KU adopted the new UGC guidelines with immediate effect, the 5th Pay Commission UGC rules of 1988 governing the appointment and promotion under Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) are still in vogue in SKUAST though these should be no more applicable after the acceptance of sixth UGC pay scales in 2009.
More ironic is the fact that SKUAST Jammu and SKUAST Kashmir are still advertising new posts as per the 5th pay revision of UGC thus further complicating the issue. Though the pay of Associate Professor is Rs 37400-67000 and grade pay of Rs 9000 as per the 6th UGC rules, these universities have made fresh recruitment of Associate Professor in the pay scale of Rs15600-39100 with AGP Rs 8000.
According to the sources, the University authorities are continuing with the old statutes for benefiting their blue eyed in appointments and promotions, for which no API score is required so far.
Governor N N Vohra, who is also Chancellor of SKUAST Jammu and Kashmir, had also asked both the universities in their recent Council meeting to amend their statutes as per new UGC guidelines.
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