No remunerations despite approval of Council, Finance Deptt
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Oct 31: Despite being governed by the same Act and the statutes, both the Cluster Universities in Jammu and Kashmir are following different set of norms when it comes to payment of remunerations to the teaching and non-teaching staff of their Constituent Colleges engaged for examination purposes.
It may sound strange but it is true that employees of both the Universities (Constituent Colleges) are being treated differently in respect of remunerations notwithstanding the matter being in very much notice of the Finance Department and Financial Advisor, J&K Universities.
While the faculty members and non-teaching employees in the Constituent Colleges of Cluster University Srinagar are paid remuneration for the examination related duties, the same is denied to the employees in Constituent Colleges of Cluster University Jammu for similar assignments.
Pertinent to mention that both the Universities are cluster of Constituent Colleges. Cluster University of Srinagar, which is governed by the same Act of 2016 for Cluster University of Jammu, vide Order No. 103-HE of 2018, dated 28-11-2018 has fixed the remuneration rates for setting of Question Papers (Rs 800 for one paper; Rs 1500 for two papers) and other examination related duties like conduct of exam, evaluation/re-evaluation of Answer scripts at par with the University of Kashmir.
Since then, the Cluster University of Srinagar employees are being paid the remunerations for examination related duties whereas the same is still being denied to the teaching as well as non-teaching employees in Cluster University of Jammu who are running from pillar to post for getting their due on the analogy of their counterparts.
More ironic is the fact that this discriminatory treatment with the Jammu employees is not being made by anyone else but their own University administration, which claims `technical’ reasons in denying the benefits despite the nod given by the University Council as well as the Finance Department for payment of such remuneration to the Cluster University Jammu (Constituent Colleges) employees.
Vide its letter number FD-UNI/6/2023-74, dated 13-07-2023, the office of Financial Advisor, J&K Universities makes it clear to the Cluster University Jammu Registrar that the University may adopt the method and rates of remuneration payable to Teaching/Non-Teaching and supervisory staff engaged in various assignments for pre as well as post conduct of examination on the analogy of University of Jammu, as already approved by the University Council on 15-10-2019.
However, the Cluster University of Jammu administration claimed that the remuneration to these employees was not permissible since they are staff members of the Constituent Colleges. “As they are employees of the Cluster University, remuneration can’t be paid to them for an assignment of their own institution during working hours,” explained a top officer on the condition of anonymity.
However, when the attention was drawn towards the fact that Cluster University of Srinagar was also paying such remuneration to its employees, the officer claimed that the same was illegal and unlawful.
When contacted, Registrar of the Cluster University, Dr Jatinder Khajuria said that the matter was under consideration of the University and necessary action would be taken after clarification over working out modalities for the remuneration are obtained from the Government.
President of the College Teachers Association, Rakesh Jasrotia alleged that some elements in the University administration were creating un-necessary hurdles despite clear direction by the University Council as well as the Finance Department for payment of the remunerations.
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