'Conscious Injustice': Chandigarh aided college teachers await UGC laws, benefits despite centre's assurance

The Chandigarh Aided College Teachers’ Association (CACTA) has raised serious concerns over the prolonged delay in implementing UGC regulations and other pending benefits for faculty members at government-aided colleges across the Union Territory.

The teacher’s association has emphasised that aided colleges in Chandigarh educate over 30,000 students. Despite having collective strength to boycott examinations, it has refrained from doing so to protect students’ academic interests.

As per several media reports, CACTA stated that the issue has persisted since April 2022, when Union home minister Amit Shah affirmed that Chandigarh, as a Union Territory, should adhere to central government policies.

However, the Chandigarh administration created “unnecessary ambiguity” and stalled the implementation of UGC regulations and other benefits for teachers of privately managed government-aided colleges across Chandigarh.

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CACTA member met the Governor of Punjab and administrator of UT Chandigarh Gulab Chand Kataria.

Former president BJP Chandigarh Sanjay Tandon posted on X (formerly Twitter) and said: "The delegation, comprising Shaminder Singh Sandhu, Meenakshi Rathore, Diksha Kakkar and Sumit Goklaney, submitted a detailed memorandum highlighting the long-pending concerns of government-aided colleges in the city. The Governor patiently heard the issues and assured to take appropriate action for their timely redressal and betterment of the education system in Chandigarh."

CACTA: Teachers' concerns

CACTA members have warned that the lack of progress is eroding staff morale, which could further impact the quality of education.

The long-term demands of teachers include:

• Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions with effect from 2018
• DA enhancement from January 2025
• Implementation of UGC Regulations, 2018
• An increment of house rent allowance to 20%
• One-year probation with full salary
• Enhancement of superannuation age

“After the historic announcement by the Union Home Minister in 2022, there was absolutely no scope for confusion. Yet, the Chandigarh administration has deliberately created ambiguity without any reason, thereby denying teachers their rightful UGC benefits. This is not just delay — it is a conscious injustice,” the president of CACTA Minakshi Rathore said.