Punjabi varsity guest faculty seek hike

A protest by assistant professors (guest faculty) at Punjabi University entered its fourth week on Thursday. Members of the Punjabi University Guest Teachers Association (PUGTA) marked the occasion by observing “Black Diwali” and vowed to intensify their protest. The guest faculty have been demanding a base salary of Rs. 57,700 in line with UGC norms and the “equal pay for equal work” principle upheld by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The association highlighted that, out of 724 sanctioned teaching positions, 392 remain vacant, with only 332 permanent faculty members. To fill the gap, guest faculty are being paid Rs. 750 per lecture, capped at Rs. 35,000 a month, which they argue violates UGC regulations.