The indefinite sit-in protest by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Assistant Professors attached to Government Arts and Science Colleges in Puducherry entered the third day on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) with the faculty asserting that their stir will continue until all their demands are fully met.

The faculty members began an indefinite sit-in protest at Tagore Arts College campus on Monday (August 10), seeking the withdrawal of a Government Order on the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS).

According to K. Balamurugan, convenor of the JAC, the G.O issued for implementing the CAS for college teachers under the 2010 University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations recommends only prospective implementation, effectively cutting off arrears the teachers are entitled to.

According to the committee, the Puducherry government had earlier issued orders on September 29, 2014, and January 5, 2015, based on the 2010 UGC Regulations, under which the Academic Grade Pay (AGP) was raised from ₹6,000 to ₹7,000 with retrospective effect.

A faculty member said the Office of the Lt. Governor of Puducherry had directed the government to pay the arrears retrospectively along with 6% interest, and that the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education (DHTE) had accordingly calculated the arrears and forwarded the file to the government.

However, the latest G.O. dated August 2, 2026, disregards this direction entirely by denying monetary benefits to 145 faculty members attached to seven government colleges in the U.T. As a result, 145 faculty members have been denied benefits for 16 years of service.

K. Sankaraiyah, Joint Convenor of the committee, demanded that the G.O. be withdrawn at the earliest. The government should also immediately implement the AGP through the selection committee without delay.

Published - August 12, 2026 01:25 pm IST