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Panjab University teachers likely to get Jan salaries as per revised scales
The Panjab University syndicate had adopted Punjab govt’s notification for implementation of revised UGC pay scales in November last year
The long wait of Panjab University (PU) teachers for revised University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales as per the 7th Pay Commission is set to end, as the varsity is expected to disburse their January salaries (paid in February) as per the revised scales.
The varsity had in December asked the staff to give an undertaking for exercising the option after the Punjab government notification for implementation of revised UGC scales was adopted by the syndicate in November last year. Now, the pay fixation process is nearly over for the university teachers.
Around 630 faculty members of the university are awaiting the revision of salary scales. PU registrar YP Verma said, “The process of pay fixation for teachers is over and they may get their next salaries as per revised scales. However, the pay fixation process for non-teaching staff is still underway.”
While the PU senate – varsity’s apex governing body – had adopted the 6th Punjab Pay Commission for the non-teaching staff in March last year, the nod to adopt the Punjab government notification to implement the revised UGC pay scales for teachers came at its last meeting on December 30.
The move will result in the enhancement in the salaries of hundreds of PU teachers, who have been waiting for a pay hike since 2018 due to Punjab’s delay to implement the revised UGC scales.
The Panjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) in its last general body meeting (GBM) held on January 17 had also pressed for the immediate release of revised salary scales as per the 7th Pay Commission. The teachers’ had resolved that in case of any laxity on part of the authorities in disbursing the salary of teachers for the month of January 2023 (to be paid in February), as per the revised scales, PUTA would be forced to resume agitation.
However, so far, it is not clear whether the varsity will also give the benefit of salary revision to the non-teaching staff, as salary discrepancy has been found in some cases. The president of Panjab University Staff (non-teaching) Association (PUSA), Honey Thakur said there were discrepancies in some cases only but the salaries of other staffers could be revised. “We have also met the vice-chancellor in this regard. If the salaries of non-teaching staff are not revised, then we will be forced to protest,” he added.
