By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Haridwar, 6 Aug: Gurukul Kangri (Deemed to be University), one of the country’s oldest and most respected Vedic educational institutions, is once again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Over the past several months, the Gurukul Kangri institutions in Uttarakhand, particularly those in Haridwar and Dehradun, have figured in the news more for controversies than academic achievements. On the one hand, the teachers and non-teaching employees have now openly revolted against what they describe as arbitrary decisions of the university administration affecting their service conditions and, on the other hand, a long-standing dispute over the university’s sponsor body has simultaneously reached the Haridwar Civil Court. This has added another layer of uncertainty to the institution’s future.
It may be recalled that the latest developments come against the backdrop of continuing resentment over reported attempts to shift the more than century-old Kanya Gurukul campus in Dehradun to Haridwar. The proposal had triggered widespread opposition from the teachers, the employees, the alumni and the local Arya Samaj supporters. In this connection, some complaints were also stent to to the Union Ministry of Education, following which the university administration reportedly stepped back from the move to shift the school for the time being. However, concerns continue to persist in Dehradun. There have also been allegations that certain office-bearers of the Delhi unit of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha still have been making clandestine efforts to gradually shift the Kanya Gurukul from Dehradun to Haridwar by first transferring selected academic courses and thereafter leasing out the prime Dehradun campus land to private builders or land sharks. Although these allegations remain disputed, they have generated considerable resentment and apprehension among the teachers and the employees associated with the Dehradun campus.
Adding to the growing unrest, the teachers and the non-teaching employees have accused the university administration of acting unilaterally in matters relating to their service conditions. They have alleged that the administration has arbitrarily altered the long-standing structure governing annual salary increments and has also denied eligible employees the financial benefits arising from promotions.
Teachers’ Association President Dr Murli Manohar Tiwari, Secretary Namit Khanduja, Employees’ Union President Rajneesh Bhardwaj, General Secretary Narendra Malik and other employee representatives have accused the university administration of adopting an adamant attitude and ignoring the genuine concerns of employees. According to the employee organisations, nearly 80 employees, many of whom have been serving the university for almost two decades, have been affected after the administration allegedly changed the annual increment structure without any prior notice or consultation. They claimed that these employees had, until now, been receiving all salary-related benefits in accordance with Government of India rules, but are now being deprived of their legitimate entitlements.
The employee organisations have further alleged that Dearness Allowance due from January 2026 has still not been released to the teaching and the non-teaching staff. They have also claimed that employees who had earned promotions several years ago have not been granted the corresponding financial and service benefits.
Expressing serious concern over what they described as arbitrary administrative functioning, the teachers’ and employees’ organisations have demanded that the university immediately withdraw the disputed orders. They have warned that, if their demands are not accepted, they would be compelled to launch an agitation. They have demanded restoration of the previous system of annual increments and MACP in accordance with Government of India norms, besides immediate payment of the Dearness Allowance pending since January 2026.
Even as discontent among employees continues to mount, another significant controversy involving the university has now entered the judicial arena. A long-pending dispute relating to the sponsor body of Gurukul Kangri (Deemed to be University) has reached the Haridwar Civil Court after Punjab Sabha filed a civil suit challenging the claim of the Delhi Sabha and Haryana Sabha to be recognised as the university’s sponsor body.
In the suit, Punjab Sabha has contended that neither Delhi Sabha nor Haryana Sabha forms part of Punjab Sabha and, therefore, neither organisation has any legal authority or relationship entitling it to function as or represent itself as the sponsor body of Gurukul Kangri (Deemed to be University). The petition has sought appropriate directions restraining both organisations from presenting or projecting themselves as the university’s sponsor body.
The civil suit has been filed by Advocate Ashwini Sharma in his capacity as President of Punjab Sabha. The petition claims that the Sarvadeshik Sabha has recognised him as the duly elected President of Punjab Sabha, while asserting that Sudarshan Sharma does not enjoy such recognition.
According to the petition, the prolonged ambiguity regarding the identity of the sponsor body has repeatedly created confusion in the university’s administration, policy-making process and overall management. The Punjab Sabha has argued that a judicial determination has become necessary to ensure administrative and legal clarity and to prevent future disputes affecting the institution’s governance. The petition also states that documentary evidence and other records will be produced before the court in support of its claims.
The Haridwar Civil Court is now expected to examine the rival contentions, documentary evidence and the applicable legal provisions before deciding the matter. The outcome is expected to have far-reaching implications for the administrative structure and governance of the university, which was founded on the ideals of the Arya Samaj and has long occupied a distinguished place among India’s premier Vedic educational institutions.
At the same time, the teachers, employees, students, alumni and various Arya Samaj organisations are now closely watching the proceedings before the Haridwar Civil Court. It is widely believed that the court’s verdict could not only settle the long-standing dispute over the university’s sponsor body but also significantly influence the future administrative direction of the Gurukul Kangri institutions.
Speaking to Garhwal Post, General Secretary of the Employees Union, Narendra Malik alleged that a large number of contractual employees have been dismissed by the management, no promotions are being made for a long time and that the teachers who were promoted recently have also not been given upgraded pay scale. He also alleged that many employees after serving for years in Haridwar or Dehradun have been transferred from Haridwar to Dehradun and from Dehradun to Haridwar and have not even been given House Rent Allowance.
At the same time, speaking to Garhwal Post, Registrar of Gurukul Kangri, Satyadev Vidyalankaar claimed that he is not aware of any issues that the teachers and the non-teaching employees may be having with the management. He also claimed that he is also not aware of any court case filed by Punjab Pratinidhi Sabha against Delhi and Haryana Pratinidhi Sabhas over the control of Gurukul institutions in Uttarakhand. He claimed that Delhi, Haryana and Punjab Pratinidhi Sabhas jointly control the Gurukul institutions in the state. Meanwhile the teachers, the employees, students, alumni and various Arya Samaj organisations are now closely watching the proceedings before the Haridwar Civil Court. It is widely believed that the outcome of the case may not only determine the question of the university’s lawful sponsor body but could also significantly influence the future administrative structure, governance and functioning of one of India’s most respected Vedic educational institutions.
