Ajay Raina
JAMMU, July 6: In what could be termed as sheer discrimination, the teaching faculty of Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET) is running from pillar to post for their promotion to next higher scale under the provision of Career Advancement Schemes (CAS) despite rendering 12 to 20 years of services in their respective disciplines.
In the year 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2010, Public Service Commission (PSC) through a proper selection process had appointed Lecturers in various disciplines in the Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET). The appointees rendered regular services of 12 years to 20 years with effect from the respective dates of their appointments.
The Lecturers have been drawing salaries as per AICTE pay scales adopted by the State Government vide SRO-61 dated 05-07-2007 with effect from 01-01-1996 and SRO-235 dated 25-04-2013 with effect from 01-01-2006.
In accordance with the eligibility criteria under Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) as per adoption of AICTE pay rules, after the completion of the regular service of 4 years and above, the appointees were entitled for due placements in the next higher scales up to the levels of the Senior Scale and Selection Grade Lecturers / Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors.
As per the provision of SRO-61 dated 05-03-2007 all the direct recruitments to all cadre posts should be based strictly on merit by open selection through open advertisement at State level and all promotions in Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) will be on personal basis and therefore the work allocation (Teaching Load etc) will remain the same after promotion.
Higher Education Department has filled all the cadre posts from time to time through PSC as per the provision of the SRO-61. However, it has not implemented SRO-61 in terms of placement/promotional benefits to the existing eligible and highly qualified faculty appointed through PSC as per AICTE norms in the successive years from 1995 to 2013 under Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) vide SRO-61 Dated 05-03-2007 and SRO-235 Dated 25-04-2013.
The cases for the placement in the higher scales supported with the requisite performa and documents were duly forwarded by the successive Principals of GCET from time to time to the Administrative Department but no action has been taken till date. In additional to this, a number of written and oral representations were made consistently to the concerned authorities of Higher Education Department at all levels so often in spite of the assurance for an urgent and concrete action, nothing has been done till now.
In pursuance to the Cabinet Decision No 186/15 dated 27.12.2000, guidelines were framed for proper cadre management of all the Gazetted and Non-Gazetted Services and the same were issued vide Government Order No.107-GAD of 2002 dated January 16, 2002.
As per this order, wherever recruitment rules were not finalized, the same were required to be finalized within a period of six months. However, despite lapse of 14 years, the recruitment rules for the faculty of GCET have not been finalized till date.
It is pertinent to mention here that not only to Education Minister and other concerned quarter, the teaching faculty of GCET has also projected these grievances before the Governor N N Vohra.
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