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Chandigarh Aided College Teachers Association protests over delay in UGC benefits, threatens intensified agitation
CACTA, in a statement, to the media said that the aided colleges in Chandigarh receive 95 per cent grant-in-aid from the central government through the Chandigarh Administration and have no administrative or statutory linkage with the Government of Punjab.
Advocate Jasbir Singh confirmed that Khan, an insured worker under ESIC, has finally received the entire medical reimbursement of Rs 4.60 lakh after sustained follow-up with ESIC authorities.
Chandigarh Aided College Teachers Association (CACTA) has expressed strong resentment over the administration’s continued delay in the full implementation of University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations for teachers working in privately managed and government-aided colleges, despite a public announcement by the Union Home Minister reaffirming Chandigarh’s governance as a Union Territory under the direct authority of the central government.
CACTA, in a statement, to the media said that the aided colleges in Chandigarh receive 95 per cent grant-in-aid from the central government through the Chandigarh Administration and have no administrative or statutory linkage with the Government of Punjab. The association alleged that citing Punjab’s consent or policies to deny or delay teachers’ service benefits was “legally untenable and constitutionally flawed”.
The association asserted that once adopted, UGC regulations are binding in letter and spirit and must be implemented in totality. Any selective or partial implementation, CACTA said, amounts to arbitrary discrimination and violates statutory provisions governing higher education. Teachers in aided colleges have been awaiting redressal of long-pending demands, including Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions with effect from July 18, 2018, release of pending dearness allowance, enhancement of house rent allowance to 20 per cent, one-year probation with full salary, and enhancement of the age of superannuation in line with UGC norms.
CACTA also highlighted that a peaceful candle march held on Thursday witnessed participation from over 125 teachers and was conducted in a disciplined and democratic manner, despite what it described as “unwarranted” police detention. The association warned that the protest marked only the beginning of a larger agitation.
Raising concerns over the academic impact, CACTA pointed out that more than 35,000 students are enrolled in aided colleges across Chandigarh and that continued neglect of teachers rights could seriously jeopardise academic stability and institutional functioning.
The association reiterated that teachers serving in a UT cannot be treated unequally or denied statutory benefits.
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