OU professors to go on indefinite strike from April 18

Osmania University:  Professors of the Osmania University will go on an indefinite strike from April 18, demanding implementation of the contributory pension or the old policy, president of OUTA Prof. Battu Satyanarayana announced here on Monday.

Addressing a press conference at OU guest house, he said the then government in September 2004 had issued orders for the implementation of contributory pension for its employees and university staff. A day after the order was issued the 10 per cent of the basic pay of lecturers appointed later was cut. Ten per cent was added by the university was to be deposited in the employee’s account. 

He said after consulting the legal adviser criminal cases would be registered against the then OU Registrar Prof Pannalal  and the present VC and Registrar. Prof Pannalal had issued orders on Aprl 1, 2001 that the pension policy would not be enforced in the case of those to be appointed and that the LIC-linked pension would be enforced from that date. He said as per the order 8.3 per cent of a lecturer’s pay was being cut and deposited in the LIC, without depositing any amount in the lecturer’s account. 

Prof Satyanarayana asserted that a written undertaking was given to implement the old pension for those appointed from 2001 to 2004 and the contributory pension for those appointed later, after several agitations. When the issue was included in the OU Executive Council meeting agenda in 2015 the government officials in the council had requested that it be taken to the government’s notice and as also in 2016. This was not accepted by the council. 

He maintained that there was no response from the State government when the issue was taken to its notice. Prof Satyanarayana alleged that the officials since then had failed to correct the mistake committed by OU. However the government issued orders in 2004 correcting the mistake committed by JNTU. Since then CPS was being implemented for lecturers. He said CPS was being implemented in all universities in the State, except OU.

Among those present at the press meet were OUTA vice-president Dr B Lavanya, general secretary Prof. B Manohar, joint secretary Dr K Dipla, Dr K Sriram Reddy, treasurer Dr P Shankar, Prof L K Rathor.