Parity-Is it Fair or Unfair?

Mr. C.S. Sharma joined in the year 1970 in Indian Institute of Technology - a premier educational institution in the country imparting higher-level education in technology. His job demands higher level and latest knowledge, higher-level teaching skill and other skills in introducing and practicing various teaching methods and bringing coordination between the institute and industry. The institute implemented the pay scales in the year 1976 recommended by the University Grants Commission, which were at par with the pay scales of teachers in Universities and Colleges. The demands of the jobs in Universities and Colleges are quite low as compared to those of the Institute.

The pay of Mr. Sharma has been fixed at that level of Mr. Singh, who joined the Institute in the year 1974 as the University Grants Commission did not propose any weightages for the teachers who put up less than five year’s experience. Mr. Shastry was quite unhappy over the parity of salary of the teachers of the institute with those of University teachers and college teachers on the one hand and equalizing his pay with his junior Mr. Singh on the other hand.

The institute again revised the pay scales of the teachers in the year 1987 based on the pay scales proposed by the University Grants Commission in the year 1986. University Grants Commission again maintained parity in pay scales of Institute teachers, University teachers and College teachers. The pay scale of Mr. Sharma was revised and it was fixed at Rs. 3,700, which was equivalent to the pay of Mr. Singh, Mr. Kulkarni who joined the institute in the year 1984 and Mr. Prasad who joined the Institute in the year 1986.

Mr. Sharma rushed to the chambers of the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology on 20th July, 1988 and told him he was quitting the job in the institute and he was going to join Government Degree College, Rajahmundry. He further state that he was going to get the same salary in a small town. The Director was shocked after listening to Mr. Sharma.

problemS:

problem 1: Do you justify the decision made by Mr. Sharma?

problem 2: Do you propose any measures to stop Mr. Sharma from quitting the job?

problem 3: Do you think that there is something wrong with the Institute pay practices and the University Grants Commission's recommendations? If yes, what are they? Had do you set right them?