Haryana higher education crisis: 95 govt colleges without principals, over 2,800 teaching posts vacant

More than half of the 185 government colleges in Haryana are currently operating without permanent principals. Also, over one-fourth of assistant professor positions remain unfilled, relying heavily on temporary extensions to keep classrooms functioning.

The state government disclosed these figures during the Question Hour of the ongoing Haryana Assembly Budget Session Thursday in response to queries raised by INLD MLA Arjun Chautala.

The government announced that there are 185 government colleges in Haryana, with 177 sanctioned principal positions. Currently, 82 of these positions are filled, leaving 95 vacant. Additionally, the government noted that approval for principal positions at eight of the 185 new colleges is still pending.

There are 8,137 sanctioned assistant professor posts, of which 3,303 are filled.Moreover, extension lecturers hold 1, 971 posts while guest lecturers hold only 44, which means that there are still 2, 819 posts that are vacant.

Minister of Higher Education Mahipal Dhanda explained that the government is tackling these vacancies by giving "additional charges" to the principals of the nearest colleges or to the senior most faculty members.

He added that in 2025, 26 the government managed to fill 31 vacancies by promotion, and 19 more are being considered.

Besides, the government is also at the stage of implementation of changes to the service rules so that the rest 45 posts can be filled by direct recruitment. Further, the recruitment process for 424 posts of assistant professors (Group B) is going on, he said.

In case of Group B vacancies (assistant professors), the government has engaged 1,971 extension lecturers and 44 guest lecturers to meet the teaching requirements. In case of Group C and Group D vacancies, they are managed by engaging suitable manpower through Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam Limited," said the minister.