New Delhi: On Friday, the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), decided to conduct a dialogue between the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) and the University Grants Commission to take cognisance of teachers’ demands.
The central university had witnessed a spate of protests, plus an invigilation and evaluation boycott by members of DUTA on Wednesday. The strike was against a letter circulated on August 28, 2019 by the vice-chancellor, which had a clause putting a stop to the ad hoc hiring system.
Incorporating amendments to the controversial circular of August 28, the committee agreed to continue ad hoc appointments till permanent faculty is recruited. It also granted a continuation to all ad hoc teachers who have worked or are working in the current academic year till recruitment of permanent faculty.
MHRD/UGC also agreed to the other demands such as shortlisting serving teachers for interviews, amendments to the screening criteria in the UGC Regulations 2018, accelerating halted promotions and release of additional posts for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) within 30 days without affecting ad hoc positions on account of EWS reservations.
MHRD has sent the record of the discussions between DUTA and the MHRD/UGC to the UGC and the vice-chancellor, requesting them to take further action immediately.
The DUTA Executive Council met on December 6 to discuss the ongoing movement and the response of the MHRD/UGC.
The council saluted the teachers for their unprecedented strike participation to express their anger at the alleged continuous humiliation meted out to the ad hoc staff.
While the DUTA Executive welcomed the offer made on some of the key issues, especially on issues of promotion and the August 28 letter, it has decided to ‘continue’ the protest as the MHRD/UGC has refused to give any assurances on their primary demand of the UGC Regulation for the one-time ‘absorption’ of temporary and ad hoc teachers.
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Further, there is no assurance from the MHRD on DUTA’s demand for the withdrawal of the special leave petition filed against the pensions granted to retired teachers and employees
Dissatisfied by the resolutions, the executive has decided to carry forward the movement till their demand for absorption of all ad hoc and temporary teachers on the basis of 200 point DOPT roster and Kale Committee Report is met.
Under the 200-point roster system, the entire college or university was taken as one unit, across which the reserved seats were distributed. It was ensured that out of every 200 posts, 99 posts remained reserved for SC, ST, and OBC communities, and 101 posts were unreserved. This system meant that a deficit of reserved seats in one department could be compensated by more people from the reserved communities in other departments, therefore ensuring constitutionally mandated reservation.
The council said, “We also demand that the UGC sanctions posts for self-financing courses and absorbs teachers working on these positions.”
DUTA requested the support and solidarity of various student organisations, elected students’ unions of colleges such as LSR, St. Stephen’s, Kamla Nehru, IGIPESS and the general public in support of their demands.
The DUTA Executive declared its course of action, starting with the continued indefinite strike (boycott of invigilation and all other official duties).
They also announced a public meeting outside the VC’s office on December 8, inviting ad hoc teachers and their families to narrate their experiences, followed by a march from Mandi House to Parliament Street on December 9, a staff association meeting and in-campus rally on December 10, and finally a DUTA Executive meeting followed by a general body meeting on December 15 to review and carry forward the movement.