The Patna University Teachers' Association (PUTA) has issued a stern warning to the university administration, threatening to launch a direct action campaign if their long-standing grievances are not addressed promptly. The association has expressed deep frustration over the perceived indifference of the authorities towards their demands.
Date Set for Protest: Mass Casual Leave and Dharna
During a general body meeting held on Friday, PUTA members made a decisive move. They resolved that if their pending demands are not fulfilled by January 16, the university teachers will take mass casual leave and stage a dharna in front of the vice-chancellor's office on January 17. This planned protest underscores the seriousness of the impasse between the teaching staff and the university administration.
Core Demands of the University Teachers
The association has put forward a list of critical demands that require immediate resolution. A primary concern is the welfare of women faculty members. PUTA is demanding the grant of six months' maternity leave and two years' child care leave for women teachers, aligning with better practices in higher education.
Another major point of contention is the stalled promotion process. The association highlighted that the promotion process for teachers moving from associate professor to professor, and for assistant professors from level 10 to 11, was initiated as far back as 2022. All eligible candidates have submitted their applications, yet the process remains incomplete due to the absence of a screening-cum-evaluation committee. PUTA has urged the authorities to constitute this committee without further delay.
The list of demands also includes several other administrative and financial issues:
- Confirmation of teachers' services after the completion of a one-year probation period.
- Immediate release of seven months' pending salary for physics teacher Kanak Kumari.
- Allotment of research scholars to teachers as per UGC regulations, following the publication of the Ph.D. admission test (PAT) results.
- Completion of the long-overdue pay verification process for university teachers.
PUTA General Secretary Vibhas Ranjan presented these demands, emphasizing that the teachers' patience is wearing thin. The association has framed the upcoming protest as a last resort after exhausting all conventional channels of dialogue.
Implications and Next Steps
The threat of mass casual leave and a dharna poses a significant risk of disrupting academic activities at Patna University. The move signals a major escalation in the ongoing dispute and puts pressure on the administration to act before the January 16 deadline. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether a settlement can be reached or if the campus will witness a full-fledged teachers' protest, highlighting systemic issues in faculty welfare and administrative responsiveness.
