An addendum (dated 16.09.2009) to the MHRD notification 23-1/2008-TS.II (dated: 18.08.2009) to the directors of all centrally funded technical institutions reads (quote) Assistant Professors in IITs, IISc, Bangalore, IIMs, NITIE Mumbai and IISERs, on completion of 3 years of service in the (sic) shall move to Pay band of Rs. 374000-67000 (PB 4) with an Academic Grade Pay (AGP) of Rs 9000 and will, however, continue to be designated as Assistant Professor. (unquote) However, there are some instances where the director of such an institution asked for a performance review interview of an assistant professor (AP) in PB3 to upgrade his salary to PB4 several months after the AP completed his 3 years of service as an AP in PB3 in the same institute. In most cases, the AP has been performing well in research, teaching and other institute activities assigned to him. In some cases, the upgrade from PB3 to PB4 was denied for the AP. I would like to know (1) whether the MHRD is aware of and condones this practice of the directors, (2) whether the directors of such institutions are bestowed with the power (i) to flout the MHRD notification, (ii) call for a performance review and (iii) deny an upgrade from PB3 to PB4 of a deserving AP (the word deserving is in accordance with the statement of the MHRD notification). If the directors have such a power to deny the upgrade, I would like to ask for a copy of the relevant MHRD order. Thanks.