Contractual APs up in arms after Telangana govt retracts from regularization promise

Hyderabad: Even after working for years, contractual assistant professors in Telangana's government-run universities have not been regularized.

On the other side, the services of contract teachers at junior degree and polytechnic institutions have been regularized.

The assistant professors held protests and dharnas at 12 institutions demanding regularization. Kakatiya University in Warangal and Osmania University in Hyderabad hosted a state-level conference. Protesters also gathered near the residence of Telangana's Minister of Education Sabitha Indra Reddy demanding regularization.

The contractual faculty has made representations to the university vice-chancellors, minister and secretary of education, the Planning Commission Board, other ministers including the CM's son KT Rama Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration and IT, MLCs K Kavitha and Palla Rajeswar Reddy, and MLAs.

"Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and West Bengal have already regularised assistant professors. With this data, we submitted our representations, including the court's regularisation judgments from these states," said Dr. Parandamulu, State Media Coordinator, Contract Assistant Professors' Joint Action Committee (JAC).

Dr. Parandamulu said despite repeated assurances from the administration of regularisation, nothing has been done. "Even though PDP and TRS leaders, MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi and CM KTR, spoke on the issue in Assembly. It is still limited to verbal assurances. The official paperwork has not begun," he stated.

The significance of regularisation

Dr. Parandamulu said that they are seeking regularisation not just for themselves but also to boost the state's institutions.

"The NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) grading and NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) ranking for universities have fallen because of a lack of permanent teaching staff," he argues.

The coordinator also stated that the number of sanctioned positions at institutions remains unfilled, even though the number of permanent faculty has decreased and the number of contractual faculty has grown.

"This is because there has been no recruitment in the state since 2013 before Telangana was formed. Several permanent faculty members have retired or died," reveals Dr. Parandamulu.

"If the government makes contract teachers permanent, they will not be financially burdened. If new professors are assigned work without making them regular, they must be paid," according to a statement.

Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC) may have released a recruitment notice for the position of assistant professor at state institutions on December 31, 2022. A total of 544 positions were advertised, with April 9, 2023, as the last date.

Assurances offered

Notably, the contractual assistant professors have been assured regularisation before the new state was formed, according to Dr. Parandamulu. "Around 25 people retired and 30 died while waiting for this. Those who retired received no retirement benefits and those who died received no compensation," the statement said.

Dr. Parandamulu emphasized that they have the same credentials as those in permanent positions and undertake the same if not more, obligations.

"We are PhDs and have qualified NET, SET. We teach undergraduate and graduate students as well as serve as research advisers. We also provide administrative services such as acting as wardens, NSS officers, and placement officers. So, why aren't we regularised?" he asked.

Currently, 1,445 assistant professors are awaiting regularisation. In the previous five to six years, the Telangana High Court has halted regularisation for teachers (as per government order 16). It was lifted in April of this year, and the government then regularised the contractual lecturers of colleges. The contractual assistant professors quickly began their protest.