Tripura’s 178 experienced guest lecturers demand a transparent one-time recruitment process for Assistant Professor posts, citing prolonged service, UGC qualifications, expanding academic workload under NEP 2020 and FYUGP, and persistent faculty shortages in government colleges.
Amid concerns over faculty shortages in Tripura’s government degree colleges, a group of 178 guest lecturers has sought a transparent and legally compliant one-time recruitment process for appointment to Assistant Professor posts. The lecturers have submitted a detailed memorandum to the Chief Minister, with copies also forwarded to the Higher Education Minister, Chief Secretary and Secretary of the Higher Education Department.
According to the representation, several of the petitioners have served in government colleges for periods ranging from five to fifteen years. During their tenure, they have been involved in regular classroom teaching, examination duties, evaluation of answer scripts, student mentoring, internal academic activities and other institutional responsibilities. Their services, however, were discontinued on August 31, 2026, leaving the lecturers uncertain about their future while colleges continue to face the challenge of maintaining adequate teaching staff.
The lecturers have cited figures showing that government colleges in the state currently have around 507 regular Assistant Professors and approximately 732 guest lecturers. Of the guest lecturers, the 178 petitioners claim to possess qualifications prescribed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), along with substantial teaching experience. They have maintained that their demand is not for automatic regularisation based solely on their years of service.
Instead, the lecturers have proposed a special one-time selection mechanism under which candidates would be assessed on the basis of academic qualifications, teaching experience, subject-wise requirements, available vacancies and applicable recruitment rules. They have emphasised that such a process should remain transparent and legally sustainable while allowing qualified and experienced candidates to compete for available Assistant Professor positions.
The representation also highlights the changing academic requirements following the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP). According to the lecturers, the revised academic structure has expanded faculty responsibilities through research methodology, project-based learning, specialised courses, interdisciplinary studies, student mentoring and additional assessment-related work.
They argue that the increasing academic workload has made the availability of adequate teaching personnel more important for the smooth functioning of government colleges. The discontinuation of experienced guest lecturers, they contend, could therefore create additional pressure on existing faculty members and affect teaching, evaluation and student support activities.
The lecturers have also referred to previous administrative measures concerning the absorption of qualified Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs) into Assistant Professor posts. A 2022 memorandum of the Higher Education Department had permitted qualified PGTs to be absorbed against vacant positions, resulting in the appointment of 16 PGTs under that arrangement. While acknowledging that the legal circumstances of the earlier decision may differ from the present situation, the petitioners have urged the government to examine a fresh mechanism that complies with prevailing recruitment laws and regulations.
As part of their proposal, the lecturers have suggested verification of postgraduate qualifications, NET/SLET/SET credentials, PhD qualifications wherever applicable, subject-specific expertise and documented teaching experience. They have further proposed the formation of a high-level committee comprising government officials, university representatives and subject experts to assess available vacancies, workload requirements and the credentials of eligible candidates.
The memorandum also refers to a Supreme Court interim order dated September 8, 2026, in WP(C) No. 1102/2026, in the context of prescribed qualifications and recruitment standards. The lecturers have stressed that their proposal does not seek relaxation of qualification requirements. Instead, they are seeking an opportunity for qualified candidates with established teaching records to be considered through a formal recruitment process.
Meanwhile, the lecturers have urged the government to consider interim teaching arrangements until a long-term solution is finalised. They have expressed concern that prolonged faculty shortages could affect regular classes, examinations, answer-script evaluation, mentoring and project-based learning.
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The demand has now brought renewed attention to the staffing situation in Tripura’s government colleges, the future of the 178 experienced guest lecturers and the requirement for adequate faculty resources as the state’s higher education system adapts to the changing academic framework.
