According to a report from a leading daily, teachers from the College of Vocational Studies, University of Delhi, have claimed that a non-teaching staff member is being paid the salary of an assistant professor. The college is fully-funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and has sought the matter numerous times in the past but the college authorities would not revert, an RTI has revealed.
The teachers have alleged that Mr. Kuldeep Ahuja, an instructor, was paid the salary of an Assistant Professor and provided PhD increment since the past 10 years. They also stated to The Indian Express that Mr. Ahuja will retire at 60 – the retiring age for non-teaching staff.
The letter sent by UGC in 2009 after the audit, articulated that the amount was in the ‘higher scale of pay as per UGC norms.’ A similar letter was sent seeking explanation on the part of the college in 2011. UGC asked the college to pay the employee in the band of 6,500-10,500 rupees, but Mr. Ahuja kept withdrawing 75,000-80,000 rupees.
Principal Dr. Indrajeet Dagar answered to the Indian Express that the college had no role in this as the University takes decisions of financial matters – the college simply followed the University’s South Campus office’s payment decision. He also questioned the timing of the issue being raised since Dr. Ahuja has turned 60.
However, in conversation with the DU Beat correspondent, Dr. Surender Singh of the Department of Commerce who also heads the Staff Association proclaimed that, “The allegations are absolutely false. Dr. Kuldeep is the Head of Department of OMSP; the department has been functional since 1972 and has 230 students currently enrolled in the course. He has been the Secretary of the Staff Council for a couple of years. The University as well as the college recognises him as a professor but UGC now refutes it. There is no promotional policy in this University and his post is in accordance with the University rules. His salary was duly approved by the University. He has been accused by 5 people from the staff for personal vendetta. The college has asked Dr. Kuldeep to retire in a letter but the case has been filed in Delhi High Court. The rest of the staff stands with the professor and is planning for a protest in the next in a day or two.”
Feature Image Credits: CVS Edu
Prachi Mehra
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