GJUST varsity teachers on dharna for 42 days

Two teachers of the Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST) have been sitting on a dharna for the last 42 days alleging harassment by the university authorities. The teachers alleged that they had submitted a representation to the university authorities and the state government but there was no resolution of their problem.

The two associate professors of the Department of bio and nano technology in the university, Dr Santosh Kaushik and Dr Rajesh Thakur, alleged that they had been transferred to the department of allied health sciences. Kaushik said she had not specialised in the subject and this would hamper her career growth. She has been directed to vacate her laboratory in the university which she had established. She has also filed three complaints of harassment, but so far, her complaints have not been addressed by the authorities.

Kaushik said her promotion was due since August 2023 but was not being given as she was being harassed by the authorities. She said she had been a teacher in the department of bio and nano technology for the last 18 years where she was also a guide to PhD students. She said there were no relevant courses in the department of allied health sciences which suited her field of expertise. She alleged that she was being singled out on many issues by the authorities just to harass her. Dr Rajesh Thakur also raised a similar issue as he was also transferred from the department of bio and nano technology to the department of allied health sciences.

Kaushik alleged that the university administration had deliberately delayed the processing her self-appraisal report (SAR), indefinitely delayed her promotion and has even stopped her salary. Moreover, the university authorities have asked her to submit a fitness certificate from the PGI Rohtak on joining back after availing earned leave which showed the intentions of harassment.

The protesting teachers alleged that the Vice-Chancellor was indulging in favouritism and has been using his position to settle scores with the teachers who refused to tow his line. Showing distrust in the functioning of the Vice-Chancellor and the officiating Registrar, she appealed to the state authorities to intervene in the matter.

However, the Registrar of the university, Dr Vinod Chhokar, said the teachers had been appointed under the self-financing scheme for the specific course, which has been closed now as there were no students in the course. “Thus, the university has transferred them to another department. The university administration has formed a committee to look into their issues,” he said.