MU, SNDT univ cancel staff lien amid severe staff crunch | Mumbai News
Mumbai: Facing a severe shortage of both teaching and non-teaching staff, some state universities have started scrapping the lien period previously extended to employees seeking better career opportunities. In the city, both Mumbai University and SNDT Women’s University recently withdrew this benefit. This move comes despite a state govt directive from last year that increased the permissible lien period from five to 10 years. Academicians say the move could hinder their professional growth and prevent the development of a second line of leadership within the university system. Universities, though, are also working under severe strain, say officials. Public universities allow employees to opt for lien—a deputation to another institution or university while retaining their employment with the parent organisation for a period of five years. Employees opt for a lien to pursue better career prospects—teaching staff often take it to assume positions such as principal, dean, director, or even vice-chancellor, while non-teaching staff may do so for higher administrative roles. A senior principal said the move impacts the growth of individuals in the university system. “The lien period helps the administration create a second line of leadership. It is a great boost for the employees’ career progression too, and now the university’s decision will act as a roadblock for deserving staff,” said the principal. With no govt appointments, though, universities, too, are facing a severe staff crunch. At a recent Mumbai University management council meeting, the administration resolved that “all teaching and non-teaching staff who went outside the university’s jurisdiction and completed one year of lien must be immediately recalled. Furthermore, teaching and non-teaching staff working in self-financed posts will no longer be granted lien”. The resolution reasoned that ‘the number of employees, officers, and teachers on the regular establishment of the university is steadily declining. The workload is increasing, and there is no recruitment being conducted by the govt’. SNDT Women’s University, too, recalled all their staff members for the same reason. An official from one of the universities said if there are promising career opportunities coming by, it would be considered on a case-to-case basis. As per an earlier govt resolution, lien can be granted for a maximum of two years, but in case of appointment to a statutory post under the university act, the lien can be granted for a period of five years. In a GR issued last year, though, the govt revised the provision and extended it to 10 years for statutory posts under the University Act, for teaching and non-teaching staff. In a university system, the vice-chancellor has the authority to grant lien for the university’s teaching/non-teaching staff.
