Karnataka - Mangalore

‘Adalat’ brings cheer to college teachers

MANGALORE: The decision of the Department of Collegiate Education to hold an “adalat” in Bangalore on October 20 has brought a ray of hope to college teachers.

This first “adalat” for teachers in the State will be held in the office of the Commissioner of Collegiate Education at 3 p.m. The idea was mooted by Nagambikadevi, Commissioner of Collegiate Education.

A.M. Narahari, president of the Federation of University and College Teachers Associations in Karnataka, said that the adalat would be the first of its kind in the State. It will take up issues pertaining to placement of teachers and re-deployment of degree college teachers from bifurcated pre-university colleges. The FUCTAK would request Minister for Higher Education Arvind Limbavali to be present during the “adalat,” he said.

Prof. Narahari said that according to an agreement made in 2001, the federation had agreed to depute some degree college teachers to pre-university colleges till 2003. It was also agreed upon to redeploy them in degree colleges later. But nearly 600 teachers were still working in pre-university colleges. They were facing problems in getting facilities from the University Grants Commission (UGC) for research. Many pre-university colleges were not permitting them to attend refresher (subject specific) and orientation (general) courses. Referring to placements, Prof. Narahari said that according to the UGC, a lecturer should be awarded senior grade on completing six years in service. And after serving for five more years, one should be awarded selection grade. But the Government, in many cases, had not taken this into consideration, he said.

The State Government had agreed to consider the number of years of service for awarding the grades, he added.

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