Maharani Cluster University Guest Lecturers Continue Protest Over Unpaid Honorarium
Over 100 lecturers reject ₹30,000 proposal, demand payment under Department or university norms
Bengaluru, Sept. 30: More than 100 guest lecturers at Maharani Cluster University continued their protest outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office on Wednesday, alleging that they have remained unpaid for nearly two months and that repeated representations to university and Higher Education Department officials have failed to resolve the dispute.
The lecturers, who began their agitation on Monday afternoon, said they would not withdraw it until a fair settlement was reached.
Dispute Over Honorarium
The lecturers said they were selected through the Department of Collegiate Education and asked to report for duty from August 10. They claimed the previous university administration had assured them 10 months of employment, monthly honorarium by the 10th and service certificates in accordance with departmental norms.
According to the protesters, guest lecturers in government degree colleges receive monthly honoraria of ₹35,000, ₹38,000 or ₹40,000, depending on applicable norms, while university guest faculty can receive up to ₹50,000 under university rules.
The dispute arose after the university administration allegedly offered them only ₹30,000 a month, subject to TDS deductions.
“Pay us according to Collegiate Education Department norms or follow the university’s own honorarium rules. We cannot accept an arbitrary amount that affects our livelihood,” the protesting lecturers said.
Meeting With Secretary Fails to Break Deadlock
The lecturers said they approached Higher Education Principal Secretary Tulasi Maddineni on Tuesday, but the meeting did not result in a resolution. They also alleged that university officials repeatedly directed them to approach senior government and Collegiate Education Department authorities themselves, causing further distress.
“There is no question of withdrawing the protest until justice is done,” they said.
The lecturers have demanded payment without TDS deduction or, alternatively, placement under the Collegiate Education Department’s honorarium system for the 2026-27 academic year.
As of Wednesday evening, they said no concrete assurance had been given, leaving the agitation unresolved.
