PANJIM: As many as 44 assistant professors, employed on contract basis, at the Goa Engineering College in Farmagudi were in for a rude shock on New Year’s eve, when their services were terminated with immediate effect.
The dismissed assistant professors were appointed barely three months ago and one aggrieved assistant professor has claimed that they had not been paid their dues for their three months of service.
The terse one-line notice signed by GEC Principal Dr V N Shet on Wednesday mentions no reason for the termination of the services, but only lists out the faculty members who have been “relieved from their duties with effect from December 31, 2014”.
The 44 assistant professors who have been summarily dismissed from service are from the departments of computer engineering (8), electrical and electronics engineering (8), electronics and telecommunication engineering (8), information technology (5), civil engineering (3), science and humanities (5) and mechanical engineering (7).
“We, 44 assistant professors working on contract basis at GEC, were terminated on New Year’s Eve without any stated reason and also without any prior notice period as required by the rules,” an aggrieved assistant professor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
“This rude New Year’s gift to faculty members who were hired in September 2014 has left us in a state of utter shock, financial crisis and career damage. Also there was no payment made to us since the joining date, despite us delivering lectures and performing all academic activities as required,” the assistant professor said.
He said that interviews for the contract posts were held on July 12. “On September 15, we were instructed by the principal to join as assistant professor on contract basis. There was no appointment order issued in this regard at the time and hence, we were in the dark about the duration and salary to be received and did not have any orders to claim the same.”
“We continued to perform our assigned tasks and duties with due diligence and are doing so till date. We have repeatedly inquired with the principal about the status of our appointment, but received no information regarding duration and salary,” the assistant professor said.
He said that on November 25 some of the assistant professors received a termination notice to leave the job on November 28. Later the same day the others received appointment orders which did not specify the contract duration and salary amount.
Inquiries with the Director of Technical Education did not bring any clarity on the matter, he alleged.
“On December 17, an addendum to the contract order was issued stating remuneration (as Rs 36,000 per month), which was shockingly not as mentioned in the advertisement and in fact less than the previous year’s remuneration for the same post,” the assistant professor said.
“On December 23, the Secretary (Education) was informed about the entire scenario, but no resolution has been provided yet.”
“We are still in a state of uncertainty and financial insecurity along with potential career damage, not to mention the immense psychological pressure due to this entire situation,” the assistant professor said.
All 44 will be reappointed: GEC principal
PANJIM: Goa Engineering College has assured to reappoint all the 44 assistant professors from January 10 on contract basis. Principal of GEC, Dr V N Shet, said that the services of these contract assistant professors ended on December 31, as they were taken for a period of four months. “They will be reappointed on duty from January 10, again on contract basis as per requirement,” he said.
Shet said that the staffers were aware about this fact when they were taken on contract basis in September.
