Udupi : Guest lecturers, under the aegis of the Udupi district Guest Lecturers’ Association, staged a protest at the Clock Tower on Wednesday, demanding regularisation of the services.

Association president Ranjith Kumar Shetty, who addressed the protesters, said that the condition of the guest lecturers was pathetic. “They are paid salary only for nine months and have to remain jobless for the rest three months of the year. There are nearly 14,500 guest lecturers across Karnataka.

“All these lecturers have boycotted the classes since January 12 are into the agitation. The government, however, is least bothered and the education minister also never took the initiative to solve the issue. Adding to the woes is that the guest lecturers have not been paid in the last four months. Our working condition is no different from that of any bonded labour,” said the leader with fury.

He demanded that both the chief minister and the education minister initiate a recommendation of the amendments of the law to make the guest lecturers as the permanent employees.

“There is a need to set up an expert committee to look into the impediments to the process of regularising the services of the guest lecturers. Guest lecturers should be paid every month and the salary should be Rs 25,000 and above. The payment should not be delayed but paid in the first week of every month. In the process of regularising the services, guest lecturers who are above the age criterion should be appointed on the basis of seniority of service. There are many lecturers who have been employed on temporary basis for more than 15 years,” he also demanded.

All College Union Udupi district working president Manish V Shetty said the classes are not taking place since January 12. “The private college students have no problem, the government college students, however, are suffering without classes. The syllabus remains incomplete and the semester will end in another 60 days. The examinations will be a hurdle for students who have not been taught. The government should look into and solve the problem immediately,” he added.