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Supreme Court Allows 1,158 Assistant Professors, Librarians to Continue Teaching

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Supreme Court, in a significant move, has allowed 1,158 assistant professors and librarians in Punjab government colleges to continue teaching until new hiring is done. This decision comes after the Court quashed the recruitment of these personnel on July 14, following a previous order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 23, 2024. The move is a big relief for higher education in Punjab, according to Higher Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, who has stated that the Punjab government will also file a review petition to save the jobs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court allowed 1,158 assistant professors and librarians to continue teaching until new recruitment is done, following a request by the Punjab government.
  • The Court had previously quashed the recruitment on July 14, citing a High Court order on September 23, 2024.
  • The Punjab government had appointed 1,091 assistant professors and 67 librarians in October 2021 for government colleges in the state.
  • A single bench of the High Court had quashed the recruitment on August 8, 2022, prompting appeals by the assistant professors and the government.
  • The High Court later reversed its order on September 23, 2024, allowing 914 assistant professors and librarians to join service.
  • A special leave petition was filed in the Supreme Court against the High Court order on September 30, 2024, leading to the Court's July 14 decision.
  • Punjab Higher Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has called the decision a big relief for higher education in Punjab.
  • The Punjab government will file a review petition to save the jobs of the assistant professors and librarians.

Statistics:

  • 1,158 assistant professors and librarians were affected by the Supreme Court's initially quashed recruitment.
  • 1,091 assistant professors and 67 librarians were appointed by the Punjab government in October 2021.
  • 914 assistant professors and librarians joined service after the High Court's reversal of its order on September 23, 2024.
  • The Punjab government has stated that they will file a review petition to save the jobs of the affected personnel.

Sources:

  • "Punjab higher education minister Harjot Singh Bains"
  • "A bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice K Vinod Chandran"
  • "Punjab Higher Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains"
  • "The Punjab and Haryana High Court"
  • "The Supreme Court of India"
  • "The University Grants Commission (UGC)"

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