HPU Teachers’ Welfare Association Launches 24-Hour Hunger Strike Over Promotions and Facilities

Shimla, 26 September: The Himachal Pradesh University Teachers’ Welfare Association (HPUTWA) began a 24-hour hunger strike today, gathering outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office to press for long-pending demands. Teachers raised slogans demanding the immediate lifting of the state government’s 2022 notification that halted the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS), which has stalled promotions for university and college faculty for the past four years.

The association said that while promotions are being implemented in other government departments, the denial to university faculty has affected academics and the institution’s ranking. HPUTWA also demanded the construction of new residential quarters, noting that only 80 houses are available for 256 faculty members.

The association warned that during the upcoming Executive Council meeting on September 27, members would show black flags in protest. They also demanded the release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) installments and provision of Child Care Leave.