University teachers have to continue with their long wait to acquire their revised salary since the government would like to check with the Election Commission whether a step like this is feasible with the declaration of Assembly polls in as many as six States.

Top sources from the HRD Ministry told that the government might seek the Election Commission’s advice before any implementation of the latest pay structure to be provided to academics.

On the other hand, some sources have made it quite clear that our government had been very interested on putting into practice Chadha Committee report as early as possible with all changes done adequately.

The ministry is setting up a commission to reflect on the suggestions of the board which has proposed over 70 % hike in the existing pay scale of University teachers.

The committee has also been considering the concerns articulated by several teachers’ groups and the changes made by the University Grants Commission.

For the moment, the Federation of College and University Teachers Association (FEDCUTA) decided to host a demonstration to the Parliament on November 5 to voice their demands.

Almost two thousand teachers from 24 central universities from all over the country boycotted classes last week for two consecutive days. This was done in order to press the government for a quick decision for their pay structure revision and contemplation on their demands.

The demands include the following: reinstate the present 4-tier structure in order of a Lecturer to a Lecturer in Senior Scale then Reader and finally a Professor. The 7-tier structure recommended by the Chada Commission can not be subscribed to.

With these, the teachers are asking for restoration of the professor’s promotion in universities and colleges as the opportunity for a third promotion.