Guest faculty fail to get salaries as permanent teachers join duty

One sanctioned post and two assistant professors! This is exactly the situation in many government colleges of Punjab, where new regular assistant professors have joined but the guest faculty assistant professors, teaching in these colleges for the past two decades, have been left in the lurch as there is no clarity on the part of state government. Since the new assistant professors joined in the last week of September, the guest faculty assistant professors have not been released their salaries for the month of October.

Having absolutely no idea about what was happening in government colleges, the guest faculty assistant professors said that they were left in the middle of their career by the government.

A guest faculty assistant professor in Government College for Girls here said that four new regular assistant professors had replaced the guest faculty assistant professors on September 27, 2024 after the orders of the High Court.

“But the guest faculty teachers still come to the college, mark their attendance and take classes too. They have not been provided with salary, which was to be released by the government. However, the remaining share to be given by the college is given to them but the government has not released the salary and has conveyed that on one sanctioned post, one person will be given the salary,” said a guest faculty professor wishing not to be quoted.

The affected professors said that at least the government should provide clarity on where they will be adjusted and from where the salaries will come, adding that they have been teaching the students for over 15-20 years now. “They cannot replace us like that,” rued another affected professor.

It may be mentioned here that these professors have been working in Punjab’s government colleges since 2002, dedicating 22 years to teaching and other college duties. They emphasise their involvement in various activities, including organising NCC and NSS camps, cultural events, sports, election duties and university examinations. “We are suddenly replaced by permanent teachers, despite working on the posts for over two decades, this is unjustified,” said another guest professor.

The guest faculty teachers still come to the college, mark their attendance and take classes too. They have not been provided with salary, which was to be released by the government. However, the remaining share to be given by the college is given to them. The government has conveyed that on one sanctioned post, one person will be given the salary. — A guest faculty professor