The State Government had raised the superannuation age for the college teaching staff members and the principals from 60 to 65 around two years back. However, the matter related to the same for the higher education director still hangs fire.
Dragging procrastination on the part of State Government has resulted in the post remaining vacant for the past many months. Not a single Government post- graduate degree college principal has applied. This is because they are unwilling to forego the advantage of remaining in the job and drawing salaries till they are 65.
Dr Mukul Pant who was director of higher education retired in June this year. In the absence of applications by the competent people aspiring to replace him, the post of director has remained vacant for the past many months.
The State Government had appointed Gangotri Tripathi as higher education director in June this year as she was senior most principal of a Government PG College in the State. But she managed voluntary retirement from the department in July. later, the State Government had appointed deputy director and Degree College principal NP Maheshwari as the director in-charge in August, though he was junior in terms of departmental hierarchy.
Recently, Jadish Prasad, principal of Government PG College has been appointed the higher education director in-charge by the State Government. The issue would continue hanging in balance unless the State Government sheds dithering and decides to raise the retirement age bar from 60 to 65-a facility presently being enjoyed by the college teaching staff members and the principals as per University Grants Commission norms.
The higher education deputy director NP Maheshwari said the State Government must act on the matter of raising the retirement age bar for the post to end the stalemate. It kept pending before it for months, he regretted.
Observers opined the same, asking the State Government to stop dithering and act promptly. According to them, the quality of education in government degree colleges and government post graduate degree colleges might suffer if things continue this way. Several colleges face crunch of teaching and non- teaching staff in the State. Several decisions regarding improvement in the level of education in degree colleges may not be taken by a college principal who is appointed as director in- charge. Such decisions may be taken by the permanent director in the higher education department. The Government should soon address such issues to ensure the quality of higher education improves in government and government- aided degree colleges in the state.