JAMMU, Aug 18: The Jammu Youth Forum (JYF) has strongly opposed what it described as an “anti-youth and arbitrary policy” at the University of Jammu, alleging that extensions granted to professors beyond the prescribed retirement age are adversely affecting employment opportunities for young and qualified scholars.
Addressing media persons, JYF President Rishu Sharma said that nearly 25 professors at the University of Jammu are presently serving beyond the prescribed retirement age of 62, in some cases for up to three additional years, while reportedly drawing salaries of around 4 lakh per month. He questioned the justification for continuing such extensions when, according to him, some of the extended faculty members are teaching only a single course, while others are primarily holding administrative responsibilities.
“An extension of service should be an exceptional academic requirement and not a routine arrangement. When highly qualified young scholars are struggling to find employment, every additional year of service granted to an already-retired professor effectively delays the creation of a potential academic vacancy,” Rishu Sharma said.
He said the issue assumes greater significance in view of the unemployment situation among educated youth in Jammu and Kashmir. Referring to figures cited in the Union Territory’s Economic Survey and statements made in the Legislative Assembly regarding unemployment, he said the University, as a premier institution of higher learning, should be particularly sensitive to the aspirations of young researchers and UGC-NET-qualified scholars.
Rishu Sharma further questioned whether the University’s practice of granting extensions is being followed strictly in accordance with applicable University Grants Commission (UGC) provisions and internal academic procedures. He demanded that the University publicly disclose the criteria, academic justification and approval process followed in each case of post-retirement extension.
“Such decisions have consequences not only for an individual professor but also for the academic future of young teachers and researchers. If a department has a genuine and documented requirement for retaining a particular professor, that requirement should be assessed transparently by the appropriate academic bodies rather than being left entirely to administrative discretion,” he said.
The JYF leader also raised concerns over what he termed a disparity in the remuneration of contractual and temporary teaching faculty. He said teachers engaged for UG-PG Integrated programmes are reportedly being paid around 45,000 per month, whereas comparable lecture-basis engagements in regular departments are being remunerated at a lower level, with the honorarium recently revised to Rs 800 per lecture subject to a ceiling of Rs 35,000 per month.
“Where teachers possessing comparable qualifications are performing comparable academic duties, there must be a transparent and academically defensible basis for differences in remuneration. Young faculty members should not be made to bear the burden of financial constraints through repeated reductions in honorarium,” Sharma said.
He also alleged that departments are being required to bear any expenditure beyond the 35,000 ceiling for temporary, need-based faculty engagement from their own resources. According to him, this could leave several departments unable to engage additional teaching faculty because of limited financial resources, thereby placing an additional burden on existing teachers and students.
Rishu Sharma questioned the reported exclusion of the Departmental Affairs Committee from the process of extending the tenure of professors. He said that if the committee has a statutory or academic role in assessing departmental requirements, its involvement should not be bypassed in decisions having a direct bearing on teaching vacancies and academic planning.
He said the financial implications of the policy also require public scrutiny. “If around 25 professors are drawing approximately 4 lakh each per month, the expenditure would be close to 1 crore every month and more than 12 crore annually. At the same time, contractual and guest faculty members who undertake substantial teaching responsibilities are being asked to work within much lower remuneration ceilings. The University must explain the rationale behind this allocation of resources,” he said.
The JYF maintained that its objection is not directed against any individual professor but against a system that, in its view, lacks transparency and does not adequately balance institutional requirements with the employment aspirations of younger academics.
“Experienced professors are valuable to any university, but experience cannot become a reason to permanently block opportunities for the next generation. The University of Jammu must strike a fair balance between retaining academic expertise and creating opportunities for young scholars,” Sharma said.
The Jammu Youth Forum demanded that the University of Jammu- Make public the complete criteria and justification for all post-retirement extensions granted to faculty members. Disclose the financial implications of such extensions on the University exchequer. Ensure that academic bodies and concerned departments are appropriately consulted before granting extensions. Review the remuneration structure for contractual, guest and lecture-basis faculty to ensure greater parity and transparency. Fill regular teaching vacancies through a transparent and time-bound recruitment process. Prepare a comprehensive faculty recruitment and succession plan to provide greater opportunities to qualified young scholars.
Rishu Sharma said the JYF would continue to raise the issue with the University authorities and other concerned institutions until a transparent, youth-friendly and academically sound policy is put in place.
“Public-funded universities have a responsibility not only to preserve academic excellence but also to nurture the aspirations of the next generation. The future of Jammu’s educated youth cannot be treated as an afterthought,” he added.