Garhwal Post Bureau
Nainital, 16 Oct: The Uttarakhand High Court, today, heard the matter concerning the prolonged non-payment of salaries to employees of several colleges affiliated with Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Central University. The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Subhash Upadhyaya deferred the hearing, scheduling the next date after Diwali.
It may be recalled that HNB Garhwal University at one time was the only state university in Garhwal region and had many affiliated as well as aided colleges across the Garhwal region. However, many issues have emerged related to the affiliated colleges once this university was upgraded to a Central University. There have been attempts on part of the Central University to end affiliation of the colleges and directions were issued to these colleges to switch affiliation to Sridev Suman University. However, there is a High Court order that had stayed such directions. Differences of the University management with the affiliated colleges, however, persist. The HNB Garhwal Central University continues with the idea of ending affiliation to colleges outside its two campuses.
This particular case pertains to the unresolved issue of salary arrears for employees of affiliated colleges under HNB Central University. The petitions submitted before the Court recall that a tripartite meeting had taken place in 2024 involving the Central Government, the State Government, and the Central University, wherein it was decided that the State Government would continue to pay the employees’ salaries until the High Court delivered its final verdict. Despite this agreement, the State Government has not disbursed any salaries since the meeting, leaving the employees in financial distress. The petitioners have now sought an expedited hearing to determine whether the responsibility for payment lies with the Centre or the State.
Previously, in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the High Court had directed the Central Government to pay the salaries, but this order was not implemented. Subsequently, another meeting was convened between the concerned parties, during which the State Government categorically refused to bear the financial burden, arguing that since the institution is a Central University, the Centre should be responsible for the salaries. The Central Government, in turn, maintained that as the matter is sub judice, the State Government should continue payments until the Court’s final decision.
In a separate development, the High Court today also heard the matter related to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The Bench, headed by Chief Justice G Narendar, took up nearly a dozen petitions concerning various aspects of the UCC and fixed 10 November as the next date of hearing. An affidavit was submitted on behalf of the State Government stating that amendments to the UCC Rules are underway. In response, the counsels representing the petitioners requested time to examine the proposed changes. The Bench had also heard petitions challenging specific provisions of the UCC yesterday, with petitioners including Suresh Singh Negi, Almasuddin Siddiqui, and others.
