On the assurance of Higher Education Minister Indira Hridayesh, the agitating contractual lecturers of the Government degree colleges called off their two-month old agitation on Thursday. Under the Government College Contract (2014) lecturer Association’s banner, the lecturers, who were appointed as guest faculty by the higher education department have been agitating since May 19.
The president of the association Manoj Khali said that Hriyadesh assured the members of the association that the State Government is planning to extend the contract of the lecturers appointed in the year 2014. He said that the association has decided to call off its agitation respecting the assurance of the Higher Education Minister.
The association was demanding renewal of their contract which the higher education department which was terminated on March 31. The association is of the view that since the contracts of appointments were extended, the Government should apply same yardstick for them also. In wake of a landmark judgment of the Uttarakhand HC on student admissions in colleges, the State Government appointed 215 lecturers on contract to teach in evening classes.
The court while hearing the petition of Daulat Ram Semwal has directed the State to restrict the number of admissions in the colleges which necessitated the concept of evening classes. As per the contract the term of these lecturers ended on March 31.