A cry for justice

The Honorable Minister for Higher Education

Government of J&K

Respected Madam

I am writing to bring to your attention the deplorable condition of highly qualified candidates who have completed their PhD, NET, SET, JRF, and postdoctoral studies in various subjects. Despite their impressive credentials, these individuals are engaged as Academic Arrangement Lecturers in different colleges across Jammu and Kashmir, earning a meager salary of Rs 28,000 per month.

It is appalling to note that permanent Assistant Professors with the same qualifications are receiving a basic pay of Rs 1 lakh per month. This stark disparity is a clear injustice and a demotivating factor for these talented individuals who are dedicated to imparting knowledge and shaping the minds of future generations.

The Higher Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir has failed to address the grievances of these qualified scholars who are struggling to make ends meet. The department's inaction has led to a sense of desperation among these individuals, who are now contemplating extreme measures to draw attention to their plight.

We urge the Higher Education Department to adhere to the UGC regulations and increase the salaries of lecturers working on academic arrangement in different colleges. It is imperative that the government recognizes the value of these qualified scholars and provides them with a fair and decent compensation.

The UGC regulations clearly state that the salary of Academic Arrangement Lecturers should be at par with that of permanent Assistant Professors. However, the Higher Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir has chosen to ignore these regulations, leaving these qualified scholars in a state of financial distress.

We request your immediate intervention in this matter and demand that you take the following steps:

• Increase the salaries of Academic Arrangement  Lecturers to a fair and decent amount, commensurate with their qualifications and experience.
• Implement the UGC regulations regarding the salaries and benefits of Lecturers working on academic arrangement.
• Provide a secure and stable career path:for these qualified scholars, ensuring that they are not exploited or mistreated.
• Conduct a thorough review of the Higher Education Department's policies and procedures to ensure that they are fair, transparent, and in line with the UGC regulations

We hope that you will take our demands seriously and take immediate action to address our grievances. We look forward to a positive response from your esteemed office.

We are confident that your intervention will help to resolve this issue and provide relief to these qualified scholars. We request you to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and take immediate action to address our grievances.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Fayaz Ahmad

Working on Academic Arrangement at GCW Udhampur