Last Updated on July 2, 2024 at 12:35 pm
The pick and choose policy of the University of Jammu in granting higher pay scales to its employees has been exposed with the High Court of J&K and Ladakh directing the university to grant a higher pay scale to Deepti Padamanabhan, assistant administrative officer at the Dhanvantri Library on the campus.
It is worth mentioning that the university authorities have in the past granted higher pay scales to employees who are considered to be the ‘kitchen cabinet’ of the top officials while other deserving officers and employees were rotting on the same post and pay scale without any progression in their career.
In an order pronounced on 24.05.2024 in WP(C) No. 260/2021, the High Court has directed the University of Jammu to consider the case of Deepti Padmanabhan, Assistant Administrative officer, Dhanvantri Library, University of Jammu, for grant of higher pay scales in accordance with the decision taken by the University Council vide its resolution dated 21.01.2023.
Deepti Padmanabhan pleaded in her petition that pursuant to the approval granted by the University Council, a scheme was announced by the University of Jammu vide its order No. Estab/17/6129-88 dated 27.06.2017 where-under it was provided that Assistant Registrars and other equivalent Isolated Category of Officers, who were appointed initially in the pay band of Rs.15600-39100 with grade pay of Rs.5400 shall be placed in the senior scale of Rs.15600-39100 with grade pay of Rs.6600 (1st step) and in the selection scale of Rs.15600-39100 with grade pay of Rs.7600 (2nd step).
The said scheme was made effective from 01.03.2007. According to the petitioner, since she was appointed in the year 2009, she became eligible for senior scale (step 1) on 16.02.2014 and thereafter, for selection scale (step 2) from 16.02.2019, but the University of Jammu did not accord sanction to grant of aforesaid scales in her favour.
It was submitted by the petitioner that Imran Farooq (PRO), Vinay Thusoo (PRO), Guneet Sudan (Assistant Director, Services), who were similarly situated as the petitioner, were placed in senior scale and thereafter in selection scale leaving out the petitioner.
The University of Jammu in its reply has submitted that placement/promotional scheme in respect of Assistant Registrars and other equivalent Isolated Category of Officers was notified in terms of order No. Estab/17/6129 dated 27.06.2017, however, the said scheme was not implemented due to some reservations of the then President, Jammu University Officers Welfare Association with respect to implementation of the said scheme with retrospective effect.
It has been submitted that Career Progression Scheme has been adopted by the Jammu University in the case of Public Relation Officers which has been notified on the analogy of University of Kashmir but the same has not been notified in the case of other Isolated Category of Officers of the Jammu University. On adoption of the scheme in respect of Public Relation Officers, Imran Farooq and Vinay Thusoo were placed in senior scale and subsequently, in selection scale. Similarly, Guneet Sudan was placed in senior scale on the analogy of UGC Scheme notified vide No. 1-77/2015/U-11 (2) dated 02.11.2017 for Assistant Registrars. Guneet Sudan was again placed in another higher pay scale by the University Council vide resolution No. 87.74 dated 21.01.2023.
The Court observed that the respondent University pursuant to the aforesaid resolution of the University Council, while placing Guneet Sudan in the higher scale of pay in terms of Career Advancement Scheme, did not issue any follow up order regarding implementation of Career Advancement Scheme in favour of other isolated category of officers appointed in the same pay scale and fulfilling the requisite qualification criteria. The resolution has been adopted by the University Council on 21.01.2023 and more than one year has elapsed since then, but no follow up action has been taken by the respondent-University for considering the case of the petitioner, who also belongs to the Isolated Category of officers falling in the pay scale of Rs.15600-39100 with grade pay of Rs.5400/-.
There is no justification for the University to delay consideration of the case of the petitioner for grant of higher pay scales once the University Council has decided to accord the benefit of Career Advancement Scheme in favour of all the other isolated Category of Officers including Assistant Administrative Officers as is manifest from a reading of Agenda Item No.87.74 that was considered by the University Syndicate on 14.11.2022.
Meanwhile, a senior officer of the University of Jammu told that even the Assistant Registrars (ARs) were denied CAS as prescribed by UGC and they have to appear in interview to get the scale of Deputy Registrar. While some blue eyed boys who have influence on the administration have got the same CAS which was denied to the ARs. The officer informed that the Jammu University has proposed the redesignation of the PRO’s to Assistant Director (Information and Public Relations) in the new Recruitment rules. This is being done to give them more benefits in future with higher pay scales and elevate them to the post of director. Previously they were given the scales which do not exist in State Government or UGC, he claimed.
An internal committee was formed by the University and signalled by the higher-ups to give them the benefit and they were given the scales which existed nowhere, it is alleged.
The officer also claimed that recently a post of Director, Centre for IT Enabled Services, was advertised by the Jammu University to give benefit to one blue eyed boy who is very close to the JU top boss. This person who is not an Assistant Registrar, but to give him benefit out of the way, was placed in senior scale on the analogy of UGC Scheme notified vide No. 1-77/2015/U-11 (2) dated 02.11.2017 for Assistant Registrars. This person was placed in another higher pay scale by the University Council resolution dated 21.01.2023, it was claimed.
Quoting examples of discrimination, the officer told that a system analyst who is a P.hD in computers and information technology (IT) has been denied even a single career advancement (CAS). “He is working in the same grade in which he was appointed 19 years back.
He had worked extensively for implementation of optical fibre based campus network and roaming wireless campus at Jammu University but the reward of transforming the varsity into hi-tech campus was his career stagnation” the officer informed.
“The handful officers, who were not given any career advancement till date should have been granted CAS as per the UGC prescribed scheme. Stagnating the career of an individual is against the very basic right of equality and dignity which the Constitution of India guarantees” the officer said.
