PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Provincial Aided Colleges Association (PACA) recently submitted a letter to the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Higher Education minister Dhan Singh Rawat and the secretary of Higher Education Ranjit Sinha, urging the government to immediately withdraw the stay on CAS promotions for associate professors to professors in 21 State-aided colleges and restart the promotion process.
The PACA general secretary, Prashant Singh informed that the CAS promotion processes for non-government colleges had been postponed without any apparent reason by the director of Higher Education, Haldwani, on December 16, 2023. He stated that on July 10, 2024, all aided colleges had been informed that the proposal for promotions to the position of professor had been submitted to the government for final approval and the process would commence upon receipt. However, nearly two years later, the process has not yet begun, he said.
Singh said that the letter had also pointed out that the director of Higher Education recently initiated the promotion process for teachers of government undergraduate and postgraduate colleges from Academic Level 11 to 14 (professor positions) through the ‘Samarth Portal.’ He said that it is regrettable that this process has only started for government teachers while teachers from non-government colleges with similar qualifications remain excluded.
The PACA had previously sent demand letters regarding this issue on May 25, 2025, and April 5, 2026. “This is their third and final reminder. The prolonged delay since December 2023 has caused significant frustration and mental distress among senior teachers. The association firmly believes that the government should restore the promotion process,” he said.
Singh added that the government should not impose any technical conditions, such as mandatory student fund deposits, which contradict the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Universities Act, 1973. “Additionally, the issue of affiliation with a Central University (HNBGU) should not hinder promotions. Our students are enriching their futures by obtaining degrees from Central Universities, aligning with the fundamental objectives of the National Education Policy 2020,” he said.
He further added that PACA in the letter had emphasised that in the larger interest of the teachers and to avoid testing their patience, the government should issue orders to immediately start the CAS promotion process for the position of professor in the non-government aided colleges, just as has been done for the government colleges. “If a swift decision is not made, the teaching community may be compelled to launch a statewide movement or approach the High Court to protect their rights. The government must bear full responsibility for any consequences that may ensue,” Singh warned.
