The private aided college teachers who are availing UGC pay scale without fulfilling the eligibility norms are in trouble.
According to information available, the Department of Higher Education had reportedly allowed revised UGC pay scale to most of the aided private college teachers while implementing the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission of the UGC without proper verification of the eligibility criteria.The State Government then had extended the facility even to those teachers who did not qualify to get the same as per the UGC norms and guidelines. This had been done with a view to appease the teachers, keeping general elections in view.
When the Accountant General, Odisha, on scrutiny, reportedly noticed the irregularities and found that several teachers of the aided private colleges who are not entitled to avail UGC pay scale were allowed to draw the same, it raised its objection. Accordingly, the Higher Education department instituted an inquiry in respect of such ineligible teachers of Brahmapur zone.
Sources said, Regional Director of Higher Education, Brahmapur Pravin Kumar Tripathy, in the mean time, has sought a detailed report from the respective Principals of the aided private colleges along with the list of teachers, their qualification, experience, qualifying percentage of marks in PG examinations, nature of posts they hold (substantive or temporary or leave vacancy), eligible qualifications like clearance of UGC NET, date of completion of pre-doctoral and doctoral qualifications like M.Phil and Ph.D.
The colleges which were served the notice include NBC College (Kendupadar), Sabitri Mahila College (Bhanjanagar), Chikiti Mahavidyalaya (Chikiti), Khemundi College (Digapahandi), Malkanagiri College (Malkanagiri), Kotapad College (Kotpad), Balimela College of Science and Technology (Balimela), Rayagada Mahila College (Rayagada), Taratarini College (Purushottampur), Kalinga Mahavidyalay (G Udaygiri), People’s College (Buguda), Gopalpur College (Gopalpur) and City College (Brahmapur).
After receipt of the notice, the teachers of the colleges who do not have the eligibility to avail UGC pay scale are in panic apprehending action and realization of the amount which they have already drawn over the years.
Notably, there are 13 private aided colleges under Brahmapur Zone which come under the ambit of probe. According to information available, there are 424 junior and senior lecturers who are currently working in different private aided colleges of the State. Most of these teachers are reportedly drawing UGC pay scale at par with university teachers, without fulfilling the eligibility criteria.
Now, the Finance department of the State Government has reportedly agreed to such objections.The concerned Principals were to submit their detailed compliance to the Regional Director by May 9.Ironically, some of the teachers of the private colleges have already drawn lakhs of rupees as arrears owing to implementation of revised UGC pay scales and the recovery of such huge amount from their salary in phases would take a long time, besides putting the teachers into unwarranted fiscal stress.