Delhi University (DU) teachers protested outside UGC Wednesday, demanding the commission's intervention to solve the pension issue and let affected employees shift from CPF to GPF.
One who avails cumulative provident fund (CPF) is given a lump sum amount at the time of retirement and cannot get pension unlike general provident fund (GPF) scheme which entitles a monthly pension after retirement.
The issue dates back to 1987, when the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued an official memorandum saying that the pension scheme for DU teachers will be changed to a monthly scheme and money will be deducted from employees' salaries for payment towards a GPF unless they opt for CPF.
UGC had given teachers five months between May and September 1987 to give their decision in writing. DU, however, granted several extensions to the teachers for changing their option.
However, some teachers did not avail the opportunity and chose the benefits of CPF scheme for several years after 1987.
But in 2006, some teachers moved the high court seeking a declaration that they are entitled to be a part of the GPF-cum-pension scheme.
In April this year, the court, allowed them to avail the benefits of the scheme even if they had not opted for it.
The human resource development (HRD) ministry had July 7 forwarded an official communication issued by the department of pensions and pensioners welfare to the varsity, directing that those people who continued to remain in CPF after the cut-off date in 1987 are to be treated as those who exercised a "deemed option" to continue in CPF and therefore not entitled to pension.
Following the HRD memorandum, DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh said they are bound to "challenge the judgement".
"Now the university has also washed off its hands from the options given to the employees. We want the UGC to settle this issue once and for all by granting one general chance to all affected employees to shift from CPF to GPF," Rajesh Jha, DU executive council member, told IANS.
"This is an important issue and concerns the lives of several teachers who have served for a long time. This has to be resolved immediately," added Jha.
The protesting group also put forward the issue of promotion which has been delayed due to change in regulations.
