Finance Department orders recovery of M Phil and PhD increments from college teachers
The directive, issued by the Additional Secretary of the Finance Department, states that the amount received by teachers as increments since 2016 must be recovered.
The directive, issued by the Additional Secretary of the Finance Department, states that the amount received by teachers as increments since 2016 must be recovered.
The directive, issued by the Additional Secretary of the Finance Department, states that the amount received by teachers as increments since 2016 must be recovered.
Thiruvananthapuram: In a move that will hit the pockets of hundreds of college teachers in the state, the Finance Department has issued an order directing the recovery of M.Phil and PhD advance increments granted under UGC guidelines.
The directive, issued by the Additional Secretary of the Finance Department, states that the amount received by teachers as increments since 2016 must be recovered. The recovery is to be made either from promotion dues or through the DA revision.
As a result, hundreds of college teachers who had applied for the PhD increment through the Directorate of Collegiate Education and received it in their salaries with official approval are now being asked to repay these amounts.
The Finance Department’s order comes in the wake of an appeal filed by the state government before the Division Bench of the High Court against a Single Bench ruling that advance increments could be allotted in line with UGC guidelines.
The order also states that the government will appoint a special committee to review the upcoming salary revision under the UGC. This, in turn, has given rise to concerns about whether salary increments and benefits recommended by the Eighth Pay Commission will be implemented in their original form.
In 2016, the state government decided to provide three increments for M.Phil holders and five increments for PhD holders entering college teacher vacancies with the respective qualifications.
The Kerala Private College Teachers’ Association (KPCTA) has demanded the withdrawal of the new order, arguing that it requires teachers to repay portions of their salaries granted years ago based on official permission from the Director of Collegiate Education. Dr Premachandran Keezhoth, President, and Rony George, General Secretary of the organisation, stated that KPCTA would approach the High Court against the order.