Despite a directive from the higher education department urging state-aided universities to halt promotion benefits, Calcutta University (CU) has opted to proceed with its career advancement scheme (CAS) for teachers.
Despite a directive from the higher education department urging state-aided universities to halt promotion benefits, Calcutta University (CU) has opted to proceed with its career advancement scheme (CAS) for teachers. The university's registrar cited legal counsel as the basis for their decision, asserting that it wouldn't violate relevant provisions of the West Bengal Universities (Control of Expenditure) Act, 1976.
Following an April 1 advisory, CU sought legal opinion to ascertain the feasibility of continuing the promotion scheme. Registrar Debasis Das clarified that the university's decision was influenced by adherence to UGC guidelines governing such schemes, thereby warranting its implementation.
Initially contemplating consultation with the Election Commission of India regarding the matter, CU received legal advice last week, indicating no necessity for such action. Emphasizing that no new appointments were being made, Das reiterated the university's stance.
The April advisory, addressing alleged violations of the Expenditure Control Act, came amidst a jurisdictional dispute between the Education Department and the chancellor, who oversees state-aided universities. The friction arose over the appointment of officiating vice-chancellors without purportedly consulting the education department.
CU, currently led by officiating VC Santa Datta since June last year, had faced scrutiny over its decision to suspend the promotion scheme, raising concerns among faculty members regarding their career progression.
Faculty members rejected the state government's interpretation of the Expenditure Act and argued that the promotion scheme's suspension was unwarranted. Sanatan Chattopadhyay, secretary of the Calcutta University Teachers’ Association, clarified the distinction between allowances and advancement schemes, asserting that the act pertained to the former, as per reports by The Telegraph.
Registrar Das disclosed plans to initially extend the promotion scheme to 20 university teachers based on their Academic Performance Index (API) scores.