JNTUH warns colleges over termination of staff during lockdown

Hyderabad: The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTUH) has warned stringent action will be taken against college managements if they terminate any faculty member during the lockdown period. The decision has been taken after the varsity received representations from faculty members on failure to pay their salaries by colleges affiliated to it.

The representations aver that faculty members are being issued termination orders without valid reason. It may be recalled that JNTUH had directed the managements and principals of affiliated colleges not to issue any termination orders without the varsity’s permission.

Any termination order it had stated should be by mutual consent between the college and faculty members as per the established service rules. The university has to be informed before any action is taken it had further noted.

The varsity has warned any failure to adhere to the norms will affect the affiliation process in the ensuing academic year 2020-21. It has further directed any grievances of the faculty or students have to be resolved at the college level.

Speaking with Newsmeter, Dr. V. Balakrishna Reddy, president, Telangana Technical Institutions Employees Association (TTIEA) said, “Managements have either failed to pay salaries or have not paid them in full. We demand the payment in full forthwith. Any failure to pay the salaries or attempt to terminate employees will be raised with the authorities concerned.

Refuting any fears of termination of faculty, Mr Goutham Rao, president, Telangana Engineering College Managements Association told Newsmeter, “We have requested the managements to desist from any such actions. Usually faculty members switch jobs during this time of the year. So far no faculty member has been terminated because of the lockdown. Our association is in fact helping the needy in society.”

Professor GVK Reddy, Member of Telangana Engineering College Managements Association said, "I don’t think college managements have terminated any faculty member due to lockdown. Exception would be normal faculty attrition or other for any other extraneous reason. Due to unprecedented situation, salaries might have been delayed. It is not unusual, because of fee reimbursement delays".