Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 04 July 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has raised serious concerns over the recent move by the A&N Administration to form a new panel for the appointment of Guest Faculty in Government Degree Colleges, allegedly sidelining experienced and long-serving faculty members.
In an official letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, MP Ray has appealed for a reconsideration of the decision, citing issues of fairness, continuity, and equity. He noted that several dedicated local Guest Faculty members—some serving for over a decade in institutions such as JNRM, ANCOL, MGGC, TGCE, and DBRAIT—now face the risk of losing their positions due to the revised selection process.
“These teachers have served under challenging conditions, often on yearly contracts with meagre honorariums in the initial years, yet they continued to contribute significantly to higher education across the Islands,” MP Ray stated.
Highlighting the recent implementation of UGC-recommended remuneration norms in 2023, the MP pointed out that most of these faculty members now hold the requisite qualifications, including NET and Ph.D. However, the new empanelment process reportedly does not account for teaching experience, prioritizing only academic scores and demonstration lectures.
Describing the new selection criteria as “arbitrary and regressive,” MP Ray warned that it could lead to the displacement of local educators by mainland candidates, purely on the basis of marks, without recognising the years of dedicated service rendered by the existing faculty.
MP Ray has urged the Administration to:
(a) Reconsider the decision to invite fresh applications without giving preference to experienced guest faculty; and
(b) Ensure that existing faculty who meet UGC norms and have served without adverse remarks are reappointed on priority, as per established practice, until permanent recruitment is conducted.
The appeal comes amid growing anxiety among the teaching fraternity in the Islands, who fear that the revised process could undermine their years of academic service and commitment.
