Chandigarh, Feb. 8 -- Even as academic and administrative responsibilities at Panjab University (PU) continue to expand, the institution is still functioning with less than half of its sanctioned teaching workforce, raising concerns over teaching quality, research output and day-to-day functioning.

The varsity has 1,378 sanctioned regular teachers' posts but only 651 (47.3%) are filled. Reason: Hiring remained stalled for nearly a decade after 2014, and even when it resumed, it was sluggish. For perspective, in January 2024, 625 posts had been filled and in September 2024 when hiring resumed, only 12 teachers were appointed on posts advertised in 2022.

Result: Departments are relying on temporary and ad-hoc employees while the existing ...