Patiala, Jan 31: The recent decision of the Punjabi University Syndicate to fill vacant posts in future on a contract basis has sparked a controversy.The university authorities maintain that the system of contractual appointment would help improve efficiency. Those to be appointed on contract would have the benefit of Provident Fund facility. Additionally, they would be offered an "attractive" pay package to attract and tap talent.However, the Punjabi University Teachers' Association (PUTA) has expressed its reservations about the contractual system of appointments, pointing out that it would not only affect teaching but also the research work in the university.It has pointed out that already, the progress of the university in general and research work, in particular, has taken a back seat on account of non-filling of vacant posts for a long time. It has demanded that instead of making stop-gap arrangements by way of contractual appointments, the university should immediately fill on a regular basis the posts lying vacant in different teaching and research departments so that teaching and research work did not suffer.The PUTA has opined that the decision to have contractual appointments would deprive the university of talent and research work would be the prime casualty.
