Teachers with MPhil in State to be promoted under CAS
   Date :31-Mar-2022

Teachers with MPhil in State 
 
Staff Reporter
The 1,200 M.Phil teachers in Maharashtra working either in university or in its affiliated colleges will get benefit of promotions under Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). The issue of teachers, who have done MPhil between 1994 and 2009, deprived of promotions was pending with the Government. Vidyapeeth Shikshan Manch has taken efforts and pursued the matter with University Grants Commission (UGC) which bore fruits. UGC Chairman Rajnish Jain himself assured the Manch and will be issuing letter to that effect to State Government.
As per the guidelines of UGC, the teachers who have done M.Phil became eligible for the appointment as Under Graduate teachers. The teachers, who did MPhil between 1991 and 1993, were the first to get the benefit of the rule. UGC subsequently issued notifications in 2002, 2006 and on July 14, 2009 exempting MPhil teachers from National Eligibility Test/ State Eligibility Test (NET/SET) or PhD.
These teachers got appointed but they were not given promotions as
they had not qualified NET/SET nor have PhD. Meanwhile, some 60 cases were admitted by the Supreme Court. SC heard the cases and delivered judgment according to which, Government are supposed to recognise M.Phil qualification and award promotions to the holders. But subsequent State Governments keep ignoring the issue.
Finally, Dr Kalpana Pandey, President of Manch and Dr Satish Chafle, Secretary went to Delhi and met Rajnish Jain, Chairman of UGC. Both apprised Jain about the problem who immediately agreed to the demand and issued a letter in the name of organisation clarifying the stand. UGC will be sending letters to the respective State Governments to clear the issue of promotions to the M.Phil teachers.
UGC in its letter has said, ‘The teachers appointed through duly constituted selection committee on or before June 14, 2006 and have acquired M.Phil degree in service between January 1, 1994 and July 11, 2009 are entitled for Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) and all consequential benefits as per norms,
provided that those teachers have received exemption from NET, on the basis of M.Phil/Ph.D. Further the actual date of effect for grant of exemption to particular candidates shall be the date of exemptions actually granted by the universities to the candidates concerned appointed on Regular Basis and fulfillment of eligibility criterion of the then Regulations.’
Promotion system
There are four promotions in the career of teachers of university and of affiliated colleges. Eligible person appointed as Assistant Professor. First promotion comes after five years as Selection grade Assistant Professor. Second promotion takes place after six years as Senior Grade Assistant Professor. After three years the person becomes Associate Professor and promotion as Professor comes after next three years.
Due to lethargy at Government level, some people got first promotion, some were lucky to have two promotions. Some even could get third promotions. All these persons failed to get next promotions for the last several years. The efforts of Shikshan Manch paved the way for their promotions. How fast State acts remains to be seen.