Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 26: A high level meeting was held between the office bearers of SKUAST-Jammu Teaching Association and SKUAST-Kashmir Teaching Association under the chairmanship of President SKUAST-TAJ, Dr Vikas Sharma, in which both the associations discussed the sole issue regarding the age of superannuation of faculty members of Universities and demanded early release of SRO for enhancing retirement age of varsity faculty.
“Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who is Pro Chancellor of both the Universities had stated very clearly his Government’s intention to bring the retirement age of varsity faculty/scientists and medical faculty at par with the retirement age of the faculty of Central Universities which is 65 years, with the provision of extension up to the age of 70, as per norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC), but subsequently when the State Cabinet met on June 19, 2014, it fixed the age of superannuation of varsity and medical faculty at 62 years instead of earlier stated position. This decision of cabinet is being resented by the university and medical faculty of the State”, said SKUAST-TAJ president, Dr Vikas Sharma.
Dr Sharma further pointed out that a month has passed, but none of the institutions (SKUAST-J, SKUAST-K, JU, KU, GMC-Jammu, GMC-Kashmir) have received any written communication regarding the decision and the authorities of all the four Universities and two medical colleges are in dilemma as the State Finance Department, GAD, HE Department, Civil Secretariat and Raj Bhavan are all silent on the subject.
Dr Vivek M Arya, general secretary of SKUAST-TAJ, said that the teachers who were or are about to superannuate in July, August and September, 2014 as they are attaining the age of 60 years are worried with respect to their continuation or retirement. If the Government believes to benefit the people in general and University and medical faculty in particular, it should immediately issue proper orders via statutory bodies to the Universities and medical colleges, he added.
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