40% of Haryana government colleges functioning without regular principals; RTI reveals over 4,900 faculty vacancies

“The worst situation is in Mahendragarh district, where principal posts are vacant in 14 colleges. In Bhiwani, eight colleges are without principals. In Rewari district too, eight colleges do not have principals. In Charkhi Dadri, three colleges are without principals, while in Fatehabad district, seven colleges face the same problem,” said Subhash, who is the state coordinator of the Haryana Soochna Adhikar Manch, a platform of RTI activists in the state.

Only 3,200 of 8,100 assistant professor posts occupied

Subhash further said that according to information procured through RTI on November 28, 2025, as many as 4,902 sanctioned posts out of a total of 8,137 regular assistant professor positions were lying vacant, with only 3,235 posts currently occupied by regular faculty.

“The worst situation is for students of English in terms of availability of regular assistant professors. In government colleges across the state, out of 1,146 sanctioned posts in English, 792 are vacant. In Geography, 508 out of 806 posts are vacant. In Commerce, 486 out of 1,034 posts are vacant. In Mathematics, 409 out of 704 posts are vacant. In Botany, 174 out of 226 posts are vacant,” he said.

“In Chemistry, 409 out of 583 posts are vacant. In Computer Science, 233 out of 476 posts are vacant. In Hindi, 335 out of 528 posts are vacant. In Physical Education, 140 out of 199 posts are vacant. In Punjabi, 44 out of 57 posts are vacant. In Environment, all 22 posts are vacant. In History, 209 out of 366 posts are vacant. In Psychology, 130 out of 227 posts are vacant,” Subhash said.

He added: “The most alarming fact is that in subjects such as Environment, Anthropology, Electronics, Geology, Management, Biology, Information and Technology, Microbiology, Statistics, and Urdu, every single sanctioned post is vacant.”

Subhash also said the department, in its RTI reply, stated that in addition to 3,235 regular assistant professors, as many as 1,971 extension lecturers (contractual employees) and 45 guest lecturers are also currently working in various colleges as a stop-gap arrangement.

HPSC recruitment underway: CM’s media secy

Explaining the government’s efforts, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s media secretary Praveen Attrey said: “The Higher Education Department has already sent a requisition for 2,424 assistant professor posts to the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC). The Commission has completed recruitment for 416 posts and recommended candidates to the Department, whose appointments are underway.”

“The process of recommending candidates against the remaining posts is also in progress. To meet the existing workload caused by vacancies and rising demand, the department has engaged around 2,000 extension lecturers in various subjects,” he added.

Attrey said that once all the recruits recommended by the HPSC are appointed, the department will have an adequate number of teachers across subjects. “The Government has already filled 31 college principal posts through promotions in August 2025, and the process of filling the remaining vacancies—both through promotions and direct recruitment—is currently underway,” he stated.