JAMMU, Sep 12: The J&K Lecturers’ Forum, under the leadership of Provincial President Pardeep Koul, has urged the Minister for School Education and the Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, J&K, to personally intervene in the long-pending issues of the teaching fraternity, with priority being given to the regularisation of eligible Incharge Lecturers.
The issues were raised by the joint leadership of the Forum, including RS Salathia, Chairman; Pardeep Singh, Chief Advisor; BK Tickoo and Renu Lengae, Vice Presidents; Ghar Singh, General Secretary; Romesh Padroo, Chief Organiser; Surinder Madhyal, DP Kathua; Jagjeet Singh, DP Poonch; Rajeev Sharma, Rajnish Raina, Suresh Mattoo, Manzoor Sirwal, Madan Singh, Mogar Singh Parihar and Asha Sharma, among other senior leaders.
The Forum stated that the regularisation of eligible Incharge Lecturers has already reached an advanced stage and should be completed on a time-bound basis in accordance with applicable government decisions and orders. It recalled that the Government had granted a one-time exemption for regularisation through SAC Decision No. 166/22/2018 dated December 7, 2018, which was implemented through GAD Order No. 114-GAD of 2019 dated January 23, 2019. The Forum urged the authorities to process and finalise all eligible cases at the earliest in accordance with the decision and applicable rules.
“Lecturers who have been continuously discharging the responsibilities of higher posts for years deserve recognition and career justice. Their prolonged uncertainty must now end through expeditious completion of the regularisation process,” Pardeep Koul said.
The Forum also called for the removal of zonation in transfers under the Annual Transfer Drive (ATD), arguing that the existing arrangement does not adequately serve the objective of a fair, transparent and rational transfer policy. It categorically stated that zonation was never demanded by the Lecturers’ Forum and urged the Government to reconsider the provision in the larger interest of employees and the Education Department.
Another major demand raised by the Forum was the implementation of Assured Career Progression (ACP). The Forum said that a meaningful career-progression mechanism is essential for maintaining the morale, dignity and professional growth of members of the teaching fraternity.
The Forum expressed confidence that the Education Minister and Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, would accord urgent consideration to these issues and take appropriate measures to address the long-pending concerns of lecturers.
It particularly urged the Government to give top priority to the regularisation of eligible Incharge Lecturers, saying that the issue has remained pending for years and deserves to be resolved in accordance with established government policy, rules and law.