PU syndicate nullifies AFU scheme, paves way for staff’s salary revision

PU syndicate took the call after considering the recommendations of a panel that was constituted to work out the modalities to nullify the scheme ab initio (from the beginning) by re-fixing pay of the employees concerned from 2012 onwards, when the scheme was implemented

The Panjab University (PU) syndicate on Saturday nullified its assured financial upgradation (AFU) scheme, as it is not a part of Punjab’s pay structure.

Of the around 2,000 non-teaching employees awaiting pay revision under the 6th Pay Commission, hundreds were covered under the AFU scheme. (HT Photo)

The decision has paved the way for revision of pay scales for all non-teaching staff who were covered under the scheme.

The syndicate took the call after considering the recommendations of a panel that was constituted to work out the modalities to nullify the scheme ab initio (from the beginning) by re-fixing pay of the employees concerned from 2012 onwards, when the scheme was implemented.

Of the around 2,000 non-teaching employees awaiting pay revision under the 6th Pay Commission, hundreds were covered under the AFU scheme.

In 2012, PU had adopted the AFU scheme (passed by its board of finance) in lieu of Punjab government’s assured career progression (ACP) scheme.

A decade later, the board of finance in October 2022 had observed that the AFU scheme was a standalone scheme of the university and not part of Punjab government’s civil service rules, following which a panel was constituted.

The board had already decided “in principle” to nullify the scheme as part of the pay revision package so that revised pay as per 6th Pay Commission can be implemented for all non-teaching staff. Now, as a replacement, the employees will be given benefit under the ACP scheme.

Pay to be refixed notionally

The syndicate also approved the panel’s recommendation that the pay of all employees covered under AFU scheme be refixed notionally from the date of implementation of that scheme (February 29, 2012) till December 31, 2015, before the 6th Pay Commission came into existence from January 1, 2016.

Under notional fixation, the pay is fixed in higher pay scale from the date of such notional fixation, along with any increments, but no arrears are payable.

Two UMC cases to be revisited

The PU syndicate decided to refer the two unfair means cases (UMC) to a new standing committee for revision. Some senators had alleged irregularities in dealing with these cases, during the term of former vice-chancellor Raj Kumar.

Both students had appealed against their punishment decided by a committee, following which the matter was forwarded to another committee for consideration. The senators had raised questions against referring the same cases to two different committees.

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