Haryana’s Government Colleges Face Acute Faculty Shortage, Kumari Selja Questions BJP Government
Citing March 2026 Assembly figures, the Congress leader says 4,834 regular Assistant Professor posts were vacant and seeks an updated recruitment roadmap
Sirsa MP, former Union Cabinet Minister, AICC National General Secretary, Congress in-charge for Uttarakhand and Congress Working Committee member Kumari Selja has expressed serious concern over the shortage of regular teachers and principals in Haryana’s government colleges and universities. She said the BJP government, which has repeatedly spoken about expanding higher education in the state, must first ensure adequate teaching staff, permanent principals, essential facilities and proper infrastructure in existing institutions.
Referring to figures presented by the state government in the Haryana Assembly in March 2026, Selja said that 95 of the 177 sanctioned principal posts across the state’s 185 government colleges were vacant. The situation among Assistant Professors, she said, was equally concerning. Against 8,137 sanctioned posts, only 3,303 regular teachers were in position, leaving 4,834 posts without regular appointments.
She pointed out that extension lecturers and guest faculty were being engaged to keep academic activities running in the absence of a sufficient number of regular teachers. While such arrangements may help institutions manage teaching requirements, she said, they cannot be treated as a substitute for a stable and adequately staffed higher education system.
Selja questioned how many regular appointments of teachers and principals had actually been made by the government between March and November 2026. She demanded that the state publish an updated account of vacancies, with details broken down subject-wise, district-wise and college-wise, so that students, candidates and the public can assess the actual staffing position.
Vacancies in Universities Raise Further Concerns
The Congress leader also expressed concern over the large number of vacant teaching posts in several government universities across Haryana. She said figures emerging from different universities point towards serious challenges in the state’s higher education system.
A shortage of regular faculty, she said, can affect several essential academic activities, including classroom teaching, research work, student supervision and academic guidance. Students require consistent access to qualified teachers not only for completing their courses but also for developing subject knowledge, pursuing research and preparing for future opportunities.
Selja said the government must present a clear picture of faculty vacancies in every state-run university and explain what steps are being taken to fill them. Announcements about expanding higher education, she maintained, must be accompanied by adequate staffing and institutional resources.
Qualified Young Scholars Need Job Security
Selja further said that many young people holding advanced qualifications such as PhDs and NET are serving as temporary or part-time teachers in colleges and universities across the state. Despite performing important academic responsibilities, many of these highly qualified individuals continue to face uncertainty over permanent employment and adequate financial security.
She urged the government to ensure fair remuneration, greater employment security and transparent opportunities for regular appointments. According to her, the contribution of qualified young teachers should be recognised through a fair service framework rather than leaving them dependent on temporary arrangements for extended periods.
Questions Raised Over Women’s Colleges and Infrastructure
The Congress leader also referred to the Haryana government’s stated commitment to making a women’s college available within every 20-kilometre radius. She said reports about delays in the construction of permanent college buildings and the availability of essential facilities at different locations have raised questions about the implementation of this commitment.
She asked the government to disclose how many colleges are functioning from their permanent buildings, how many construction projects remain incomplete and how many institutions have adequate regular teaching staff. The government, she said, must provide a transparent status report rather than relying only on announcements and commitments.
Demand for Time-Bound Recruitment Calendar
Selja demanded that the government issue a time-bound recruitment calendar for filling vacant posts in the Higher Education Department and all government universities. She said the selection process must be transparent and provide equal opportunities to eligible candidates.
She also called for a fair remuneration structure and appropriate service-related safeguards for guest and part-time teachers. A clear recruitment schedule, she said, would help institutions plan academic activities more effectively while giving qualified candidates greater clarity about employment opportunities.
Selja said the Congress has consistently supported accessible, quality education and equal opportunities. Education, she added, cannot be strengthened merely through buildings or public announcements; it requires qualified teachers, a supportive academic environment and the facilities students need to learn and progress.
With the future of lakhs of young people linked to the quality of higher education, she urged the BJP government to present a concrete action plan, address the shortage of regular faculty and ensure accountability for the implementation of its commitments.
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The figures cited in this report were attributed to data presented by the Haryana government in the State Assembly in March 2026. The government has been asked to provide an updated account of appointments and vacancies.
