Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 19 Aug: The Provincial Association of Aided Colleges (PACA) has strongly urged the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, to intervene immediately and ensure the release of long-pending salaries of principals, teachers, and non-teaching staff working in all 21 aided colleges across Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
In a formal representation (Letter No. PACA/2025/8/187), PACA President Prof HS Randhawa and Secretary Prof. Prashant Singh highlighted the grave financial and social distress being faced by hundreds of families due to the non-payment of salaries since June 2025. Despite the approval of ₹49.12 crore for 4 months (July–October 2025) by the Higher Education Department, and the prior sanction of June salaries, the Directorate of Higher Education has withheld disbursement citing prolonged verification of documents related to posts created before 1975.
PACA emphasized that: 1. Salary disbursement should not be linked to a long-drawn verification process (1975–2025) of sanctioned posts; 2. Any clarification required by the Higher Education Department can be immediately furnished by the colleges without delaying staff payments; and 3. The indefinite stoppage of salaries is arbitrary, unjustified, and is pushing teaching and non-teaching staff into severe economic hardship.
The association pointed out that while all required documents were already submitted by the deadline of 14th August 2025, the Higher Education Department continues to hold back payments on “technical pretexts.” This not only amounts to administrative misuse of authority but is also adversely affecting the higher education system of Uttarakhand.
PACA reminded the government that all 21 aided colleges are playing a pivotal role in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in the state. Withholding salaries of educators and staff undermines morale and disrupts academic functioning at a crucial time.
Speaking on behalf of the association, Prof Randhawa and Prof Singh appealed, “We request the Chief Minister to immediately intervene in this matter of utmost public and academic importance. The Higher Education Department and Directorate must be directed to release pending salaries of all principals, teachers, and employees of the 21 aided colleges without any further delay. This decision will not only provide much-needed relief to hundreds of families but also strengthen the image of Uttarakhand as a progressive state committed to promoting quality higher education.”
PACA has also forwarded copies of its representation to Cabinet Minister (Higher Education) Dr Dhan Singh Rawat and Dr Devendra Bhasin, Vice-Chairman, Uttarakhand Higher Education Upgradation Committee, urging their immediate support in resolving this crisis.
