In the case of the recruitment of 1158 assistant professors in Punjab colleges, the state government has found no respite from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The government has sought to have those teachers who have received appointment letters join. The high court has halted the hearing without issuing any interim orders.
Kulwinder Singh, through advocate Jagtar Singh Sidhu, had filed a petition in the High Court, stating that the Punjab government had issued an advertisement for assistant professor positions in government colleges. According to the advertisement, a provision was made to award a maximum of five points for experience each year.
Subsequently, the Punjab government amended the rules, stating that only teachers serving in colleges run by the Punjab government would benefit from the experience points. The plea argued that after issuing an advertisement, recruitment conditions could not be changed. Therefore, this provision should be rejected.
The high court had issued an order to cancel the recruitment. Afterward, the matter was challenged before the division bench. The bench had stayed the single bench order and directed to maintain the status quo on the recruitment. During this time, appointments were given to 600 applicants, but only 135 joined.
Now, the Punjab government has applied to allow the remaining applicants to join. The high court has adjourned the hearing on Wednesday without granting any relief to the government.