In the heart of Jammu and Kashmir’s higher education system lies a troubling paradox: some of the brightest minds, dedicated to shaping the future of young scholars, are themselves trapped in a cycle of uncertainty, financial distress, and institutional neglect. The hire-and-fire model of contractual employment, where lecturers are engaged and disengaged twice a year without any long-term security, is not just unjust but also a serious impediment to academic progress. At a time when India is pushing for global excellence in higher education, J&K’s faculty members are treated as disposable labor, with no structured career progression, job stability, or fair wages. This exploitative system must end, and the government must urgently introduce a progressive job policy that recognizes the indispensable role of contractual lecturers in shaping the intellectual landscape of the region.
- Lecturers Reduced To Disposable Labour: Contractual lecturers in J&K, many of whom hold PhDs, NET, SET qualifications, and years of teaching experience, are appointed on a semester basis. At the end of each term, they face abrupt disengagement, with no guarantee of reappointment. This continuous cycle of uncertainty forces them to live in a state of perpetual anxiety, unsure whether they will have a job in the next academic session. Imagine a scholar who has spent over a decade in academia—earning advanced degrees, publishing research, and contributing to knowledge—being asked to reapply for the same job every six or eight months. This is the harsh reality for J&K’s contractual lecturers, who are treated as seasonal workers rather than the academic pillars they truly are. This exploitative model is not just unfair to faculty members; it directly impacts the quality of higher education. When lecturers face constant disengagement, institutions suffer from frequent faculty turnover, which disrupts the teaching-learning process. Additionally we lose experienced educators, who leave the profession due to job insecurity. Colleges witness weakened research culture, as contractual faculty are given no institutional support to pursue academic projects. If J&K aspires to be a hub of innovation, research, and academic excellence, it cannot afford to treat its educators as temporary laborers. The foundation of a strong university system is stable, motivated, and well-compensated faculty—not an army of lecturers living paycheck to paycheck.
“If J&K is to truly reform its higher education system under NEP 2020, it must start by securing the future of its faculty. A job policy that guarantees dignity, stability, and fair compensation is not a privilege—it is a necessity. The time for temporary fixes is over. The government must act decisively to end the exploitation of contractual lecturers and introduce a permanent solution that safeguards the future of education in Jammu and Kashmir.”
- Violation Of Equal Pay And Fair Employment Principles: The Supreme Court of India has consistently upheld the principle of “Equal Pay for Equal Work”, yet contractual lecturers in J&K are denied fair wages and benefits. Despite performing the same duties as permanent faculty—teaching courses, mentoring students, and engaging in academic activities—they receive a fraction of the salary and no social security benefits. Across India, states have recognized the need for job stability in higher education and have moved towards long-term contracts and phased regularization policies. States like Himachal Pradesh and Haryana are the examples. However, in J&K, contractual faculty remain caught in a bureaucratic loophole, where policies are designed not to secure their future but to maintain a system of academic exploitation. The time for change is now. The hire-and-fire model must be abolished, and the government must introduce a fair and structured job policy that ensures job security.
- A Transparent Path To Regularization: Long-serving (4 years) contractual lecturers must be given a pathway to permanent employment.A merit-based absorption mechanism should be introduced, recognizing teaching experience, research contributions, and academic achievements. For 4 years, salaries should align with UGC-mandated pay scales, ensuring contractual faculty are paid fairly for their labor. UT of Ladakh has applied basic salary (INR 57,700) policy for its contractual Lecturers/Assistant Professors. Basic employment benefits such as EPF, medical insurance, and paid leave must be extended to all contractual lecturers.
Conclusion: A system that exploits educators cannot build a strong future. The government of Jammu and Kashmir must recognize that lecturers are not seasonal laborers. They are the backbone of academia—the mentors who guide students, the scholars who contribute to knowledge, and the educators who sustain the intellectual growth of our institutions. By continuing the hire-and-fire model, the administration is sending a dangerous message: that higher education in J&K is built not on respect, stability, and academic freedom, but on a system of exploitation and insecurity. If J&K is to truly reform its higher education system under NEP 2020, it must start by securing the future of its faculty. A job policy that guarantees dignity, stability, and fair compensation is not a privilege—it is a necessity. The time for temporary fixes is over. The government must act decisively to end the exploitation of contractual lecturers and introduce a permanent solution that safeguards the future of education in Jammu and Kashmir.
(The author a freelancer is also teacher and a researcher based in Gowhar Pora Chadoora. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
