GNDU denies teachers’ claim of granting extension to principals in affiliated colleges

The Association of the United College Teachers (AUCT) of Punjab and Chandigarh has written to Karamjeet Singh, the Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), demanding the termination of the practice of giving extension to the principals after the age of 60 in the affiliated colleges of the university.

In a letter addressed to the VC, AUCT delegates Prof Jaspal Singh, the general secretary, and Prof Tarun Ghai, claimed that in its affiliated colleges, the university was following the practice of extending the tenure of the principals maximum up to five years after they reached the age of retirement i.e. 60 years. The extension is given in a 2+2+1 manner in the name of availing the services of the seasoned persons.

However, the university authorities, including the VC and Dean (College Development) Dr Saroj Bala, have denied any such claims and called it “false”. While AUCT’s Tarun Ghai raised concerns regarding the policy of granting service extension beyond the age of 60, he said the request was made to discontinue such extensions. “Currently, two private affiliated colleges (KMV and APEEJAY) in Jalandhar have given extension to principals and it was taken up in a discussion with VC GNDU,” he said.

The VC said any such claims being made were not true. “The university does not grant any such extension, and hence the claims of the AUCT are incorrect. We have a procedure in place for appointing principals of colleges and posts are advertised and filled in after following procedure,” he said.

The Dean (College Development) said that extension of service for posts of principals in affiliated colleges was not followed as per university regulations. “There is no such extension granted to any principal beyond retirement. We have been trying to share the facts with AUCT and the university advertises vacancies or appointments for the post of principals in affiliated colleges after due procedure.”

Amritsar