Class IV and contractual workers in Jammu University have struck work for the eighth day today. They are joined by the non-teaching staff of the university, thus paralyzing normal work of this ace educational institution. The demand of the Class IV and contractual workers is that their services should be regularized and those having qualified for promotion to class IV should be done justice. This demand has been there for quite some time and reports say that in October last, they were told that their demands would be considered sympathetically. It appears that the matter has got stuck up at the level of the Financial Advisor because regularization and promotion ultimately leads to financial implication.
Vice Chancellor of Jammu University is convinced that justice needs to be done to the employees of lowest rung and the contractual workers. After all, they are part of society and are entitled to social justice. The VC is reported to have personally discussed the matter with the Financial Advisor. One fails to understand how come powers are so drastically concentrated in the hands of one senior government official in a way that he enjoys the powers but is not accountable for the consequences of sitting on files for months at end. It is the University authorities who, despite his sincere efforts to bring justice and relief to the affected people, is now bearing the brunt of the delay at the level of the Financial Advisor. His statement read out to the striking staff by the Registrar expresses solidarity with the affected staff and at the same time indicates his helplessness in expediting the matter. True, the issue will be resolved in due course of time and the pressure tactics of the striking staff will bear fruit. But then there arises an important issue from this scenario. The issue is of evolving a mechanism through administrative practices that does not leave the officials with arbitrary powers and absence of accountability.
Now that the non-teaching staff has joined the stir of Class IV and contractual workers, it means the entire teaching work in the departments will come to a standstill. Who are the ultimate sufferers? They are not only the demonstrating staff but more than anybody else it is the student community whose entire career is at stake. Higher authorities must understand that binding the hands of the University authorities is not in the interests of anybody, students, staff or the authorities.
If the university has set forth conditions for regularization of contractual workers and these were agreed upon by the parties when initial appointment of the staff was made, then it is the legal and moral responsibility of the university to fulfill its commitment once the employee has fulfilled those conditions. Forcing the affected employees to proceed on strike is a clear indication of inefficiency of administration. We strongly recommend the Government to bring about desired reforms that insulate the position of the Vice Chancellors against the waywardness of financial authorities. Atmosphere of tension and strikes in an institution of higher studies like the university is unacceptable.
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