UoP senate panel to re-examine earned leave issue
TOI : PUNE: A multi-member senate panel of the University of Pune (UoP) will re-examine the issue of earned leave (EL) encashment for teachers at the university and affiliated colleges. The issue concerns over 5,000 teachers at the varsity’s on-campus departments and affiliated colleges.
On Friday, a special meeting of the university senate authorised officiating vice-chancellor (V-C) Arun Adsool to constitute the panel to examine whether the UoP statute no. 424 (C), which provided for encashment of EL accumulated up to six months by the university and college teachers, can be restored.
Former V-C Narendra Jadhav had issued an order on February 23 under section 14 (8) of the Maharashtra Universities Act, scrapping the statute no. 424 (C) in the wake of a state government directive seeking such action.
The university’s management council had earlier passed a resolution on August 22 and on October 1, last year, favouring removal of the statute. Based on the February 23 order, a proposal to scrap 424 (C) was placed for approval before the UoP senate in March.
However, Jadhav’s order set off an intense agitation by members of the Pune University Teachers’ Association (Puta) and Pune University and College Teachers Organisation (Pucto) on the grounds that the proposal was “legally flawed”.
They argued, the V-C had no powers to exercise section 14 (8) provisions with regards to changing the status of already existing statutes. “Effecting such change was the sole prerogative of the senate and section 14 (8) relates to only those matters where no statute exists,” said Puta president Atul Bagul.
The senate meet in March was marred by vociferous demonstration by Puta and Pucto members and Jadhav was virtually forced to announce a temporary withdrawal of the February 23 order, subject to debate by a special senate meeting. On April 24, Jadhav passed another order under section 14 (8) repealing the February 23 order. “Even this…More
