Uttarakhand High Court Directs Central Government to Decide on Assistant Professor Status for University Project Officers
Dehradun: In a significant ruling, a division bench of the Uttarakhand High Court has directed the central government to take a final decision within three months on a long-pending proposal to grant assistant professor status to Project Officers (POs) in universities. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Subhash Upadhyay, disposed of a petition filed by Dr. Ajit Kumar Sharma, a Project Officer in the Department of History, Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology at Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University.
Petitioner Challenges University Circulars Classifying Post as Non-Teaching
Dr. Sharma had challenged university circulars that classified his post as non-teaching, which led to the withdrawal of teaching duties assigned to him. The court noted that while the post of Project Officer is currently categorized as non-teaching and does not inherently confer a right to teaching duties, it emphasized the need for resolution on the UGC's recommendation.
The petition specifically targeted a circular issued on June 15, 2024, which mandated that non-teaching staff, including Project Officers, perform duties strictly according to their job responsibilities. This circular prohibited issuing documents or certificates that portray non-teaching staff as teaching staff, citing potential administrative and legal issues. An amended circular dated November 11, 2025, reinforced this directive, warning of accountability for violations.
Following these circulars, a communication from the department head on November 14, 2025, informed Dr. Sharma that his teaching work was withdrawn immediately. He argued that this action was unjust, especially since a proposal to convert PO posts to assistant professor roles was under consideration.
Background: University Executive Council and UGC Recommendations
Dr. Sharma relied on a resolution passed in the university's executive council meeting on March 1, 2020, which resolved to convert the posts of Research Officer/Senior Scientific Officer and Project Officer into assistant professor positions in their respective departments. This proposal was forwarded to the University Grants Commission (UGC) on March 17, 2020.
The UGC approved the proposal at its 552nd meeting on September 8, 2021, and subsequently forwarded it to the central government for consideration. However, the matter has remained pending since then, creating uncertainty for affected employees like Dr. Sharma.
Court's Rationale and Directions
The court acknowledged that it is undisputed that the post of Project Officer is currently classified as non-teaching. Therefore, Dr. Sharma could not claim an automatic right to teaching duties based solely on the executive council's recommendation. However, the bench accepted the submission that the UGC had recommended conferring assistant professor status on Project Officers.
Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the court directed the central government to decide the matter within three months. The decision should consider the UGC's recommendation and clarifications sought by the state government on January 30, 2023. This directive aims to resolve the long-standing issue and provide clarity for Project Officers across universities.
Implications for Retirement and Career Prospects
Dr. Sharma highlighted that as a non-teaching employee, he is set to retire in October 2026 at the age of 60. In contrast, teaching status would extend the retirement age to 65, offering significant career and financial benefits. The court's order seeks to address such disparities by pushing for a timely decision on the UGC proposal.
This ruling underscores the importance of administrative efficiency in higher education governance and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by university staff in navigating classification and duty assignments. The central government's response in the coming months will be crucial for determining the future roles and recognition of Project Officers in academic institutions.
