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Guwahati, Feb. 23: The crisis in Gauhati University today deepened with teachers announcing a phasewise total non-cooperation demanding immediate implementation of the revised UGC payscale.

Dispur, however, maintained that the matter was under consideration of the finance department.

An emergent executive committee meeting of GU Teachers’ Association (GUTA) this afternoon decided to launch the non-co-operation from Friday by boycotting the classes and all other academic activities.

The GUTA meet also decided to block the vice-chancellor’s office for three days from March 3 to jeopardise the functioning of the university.

Jogen Chandra Kalita, the general secretary of GUTA told The Telegraph that executive members of the association expressed resentment over the way the state government, especially the education department, had handled the issue of revised payscale.

He said the meeting found no other option but to go for non-co-operation as the last resort of the teachers to pressurise Dispur for implementing the revised payscales.

“During the VC office blockade programmes on March 3, 4 and 5, the teachers will abstain themselves from attending classes and all other academic activities. The GUTA will also disrupt the administrative functioning of the university during those days to send a strong message of resentment to Dispur,” Kalita said.

The 6th Revised New Payscale was approved by the UGC in 2008 for teachers in central and state universities.

The existing basic pay of is Rs 8,000 for a lecturer, Rs 12,000 for a reader and Rs 16,000 for a professor. In case of the revised pay, the expected basic salary will be Rs 16,000 for a lecturer, Rs 37,000 for a reader and Rs 39,000 for a professor.

Education minister Gautam Bora told The Telegraph that the agitation was unfortunate and urged the teachers to be patient.

He said his department had already moved the file relating to the revised payscales and it was pending with the finance department.

“Chief minister Tarun Gogoi even assured the teachers to implement the revised payscale during the meetings with GUTA. The government will have to take additional financial burden of several crores of rupees while implementing the revised payscales. So the finance department will take some time to clear the file and teachers must co-operate,” Bora said.

He said the state budget for 2010-11 might allocate funds to implement the revised pay.

The GUTA, however, termed Bora’s stand on the issue as very weak.

The association’s general secretary said the education minister could have impressed upon the chief minister and finance department to implement the new payscales within the current financial year.