The Department of Higher Education in Haryana has intensified efforts to formulate the proposed Haryana State Universities Contractual Lecturers (Security of Service) Act by issuing a reminder to all state universities. The directive mandates that universities furnish critical information within three days or face personal appearance before state authorities.
Official Reminder and Deadline
In a communication issued on July 8, the Director General of Higher Education (DGHE) informed Registrars of 10 state universities that despite an earlier letter on July 1, the required information had not been received. The department warned that if the stipulated data is not submitted within the prescribed period, the concerned registrars will have to appear personally before the DGHE to explain the delay.
Information Sought by the Department
The information sought is aimed at assessing the implications of providing service security to contractual lecturers and other temporary employees in state universities. Universities have been asked to provide the total number of employees working on both full-time and part-time contractual arrangements, along with details of sanctioned regular posts. Additionally, estimates of the financial burden the state government would have to bear if the services of these employees are secured under the proposed legislation have been requested.
Scope of the Proposed Act
Universities have been directed to clarify whether personnel engaged through the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN) and teaching staff drawing monthly remuneration below Rs 50,000 fall within the ambit of the Haryana Extension Lecturers and Guest Lecturers (Security of Service) Act, 2024 and the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Act, 2024. Supporting documents and detailed justification have also been sought.
Universities Covered
The reminder has been issued to Registrars of Kurukshetra University, Maharshi Dayanand University, Ch Devi Lal University, Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Ch Bansi Lal University, Ch Ranbir Singh University, Indira Gandhi University, Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Gurugram University, and Maharshi Valmiki Sanskrit University.
Teachers' Body Response
Dr. Vijay Malik, State President of the Haryana Universities Contractual Teachers Association (HUCTA), stated that the association had been consistently pursuing the matter with the Chief Minister, the Higher Education Minister, and senior government officials, demanding a job security Act for contractual Assistant professors working in State Universities. “The reminder issued by the Higher Education Department is a positive indication that the Government is seriously working towards finalizing the Haryana State Universities Contractual Lecturers (Security of Service) Act, 2026. We hope that 1400 contractual assistant professors serving in Haryana's State Universities will also be granted the benefit of service security legislation on the lines of Extension Lecturers in Government Colleges, thereby ensuring job security for teachers who have been serving the universities for many years,” he added.
