Guest lecturers across Karnataka seek regularisation after new hiring order
Bengaluru: Guest lecturers across Karnataka are expressing concerns over the Department of Collegiate Education’s recent notification inviting new applications for the 2025–26 academic year. Many lecturers, who have served in the same roles for several years, are reportedly being overlooked, despite their long-standing contributions to higher education.
Members of the State First Grade Colleges Guest Lecturers’ Welfare Association, quoted by The New Indian Express, have raised alarms after the department issued recruitment calls 4-5 times during the 2024-25 academic year, bypassing existing lecturers who have already proven their merit. They argue that fresh appointments are being made despite the Supreme Court's rulings allowing the regularisation of long-serving temporary staff in various sectors.
“These appointments are happening at the cost of experienced lecturers who have been working tirelessly for years. Instead of recognising our service, the department is treating us as replaceable,” TNIE quoted Santhosh NS, secretary of the association, as saying.
Guest lecturers are also expressing frustration over their compensation. Despite performing duties equivalent to full-time staff, often working 15-18 hours per week, they allege that they receive a fraction of an assistant professor’s salary.
“As per UGC Regulations 2018 and 2019, guest lecturers must be appointed on the same basis as full-time faculty, and their remuneration should reflect their workload - up to Rs 1,500 per hour and Rs 50,000 per month,” stated the association.
“We are 10,300 guest lecturers doing the work of full-time staff, but without recognition or security. The system is built on our backs, yet we remain invisible. We were selected through interviews and merit lists. We have been working for over 15-20 years. If this isn’t eligibility for regularisation, what is?” TNIE quoted Lokesh PC, president of the association, as saying.
The association also pointed out that while Siddaramaiah had advocated for the regularisation of guest lecturers during his time as Leader of the Opposition, as Chief Minister, he has reportedly overlooked their service and sent many lecturers home.
Citing examples from other states where long-serving guest lecturers have been retained regardless of UGC qualifications, the association urged the Karnataka government to prioritise experience and loyalty over rigid formal criteria. They have demanded that the recent notification be withdrawn, allowing current lecturers to continue in their roles, with new appointments made only for vacant positions.
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Bangladesh court sentences Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in corruption cases
Dhaka (PTI): A Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in two separate corruption cases related to alleged irregularities in allocations of land in a government housing project.
Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-4 Judge Rabiul Alam handed down the verdicts, sentencing Hasina to a total of 10 years’ imprisonment — five years in each case, state-run BSS news agency reported.
The court sentenced 78-year-old Hasina, her nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq, and her nieces, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, and others in the cases over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots under the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachol.
The judgment was pronounced at around 12.30 pm.
Tulip Siddiq was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment — two years in each case — while Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq were each sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in both cases.
Rajuk member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the only accused to surrender before the court, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment in each case, totalling two years.
The court also fined all convicted persons Tk1 lakh each and ordered them to serve an additional six months in prison in default of payment.
Hasina has been living in India since she fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year in the face of the massive protests. She was earlier declared a fugitive by the court.
The cases were filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over alleged abuse of power in the allocation of two 10-katha plots.
According to the prosecution, the accused manipulated the allocation process and violated existing rules and regulations of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
