After two days of protest, Delhi University's ad hoc teachers got relief from the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, which accepted most of the demands that the protesting teachers raised.
However, the teachers' protest has not yet been called off as the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) will decide the future course of action only after receiving the hard copy of the promises made by the ministry officials, its President Rajib Ray said.
“DUTA has been promised that the 28 August 2019 letter will be amended to allow provision of ad hoc appointments against substantive posts. No ad hoc teacher will lose job on the basis of 28 Aug letter! DUTA waits to see the hard copy of this new notice,” said Ray in a message.
Earlier during the day, the DUTA and Delhi University administration held a six-hour meeting to find a solution though this could not satisfy the agitating teachers.
DUTA Vice President Alok Ranjan Pandey said that almost 400 teachers, who were appointed after 20 July this year, had lost their jobs due to the 28 August circular, but the Ministry assured them that their jobs would not be lost.
Earlier during the day, he varsity administration had directed teachers to end the “unlawful siege” immediately.
In a letter written to the DUTA president, the proctor of the varsity, Neeta Sehgal, said he and his colleagues have “forcibly trespassed into the Viceregal Lodge by breaking the main gate and various doors of the heritage building.”
The teachers are demanding the withdrawal of the circular and a one-time regulation for absorption of ad-hoc teachers.
Teachers said that every four months, the contracts of ad-hoc teachers are renewed but it has not happened owing to the 28 August letter, which has put the future of almost 4,500 ad-hoc teachers in jeopardy.
What Happened?
Delhi University teachers on Wednesday entered a building housing the vice-chancellor's office after breaking three gates and allegedly painted graffiti on the historic structure, PTI reported.
The Viceregal Lodge Estate houses the office of the DU vice-chancellor. Almost 5,000 teachers, cutting across party lines, had earlier gheraoed the building, and then entered its premises by breaking three gates leading to the office.
The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) had called for an indefinite strike from Wednesday and urged teachers to boycott all official duties.
"Superintendents and Deputy Superintendents are urged to tender resignations and relieve themselves from all duties related to the conduct of the examinations. Similarly, CEC coordinators/in charges should tender their resignations," the DUTA said.
Colleagues are, however, requested not to stop students from taking exams, it added.
The 28 August notice mandates that only appointment of guest teachers can be made against substantive vacancies arising for the first time in the current academic session.
‘There Was No Response from VC’
The teachers who occupied the VC's office allegedly painted the walls of the building with slogans 'End slavery and humiliation', 'Our right, Absorption' and '#VC down,' according to PTI.
The DUTA also wrote letters to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the HRD Ministry on Tuesday to intervene immediately to end the crisis which has emerged due to a letter issued by the university.
The DUTA criticised the vice-chancellor for not taking any concrete steps to resolve the crisis in the university.
Rupesh Shukla, a professor at the College of Vocational Studies, said, "We had given a time of three days to the vice-chancellor to have talks with us but there was no response from his end. We want that there should be one-time absorption of all teachers and promotions that have been denied for long be given to them."
Dr Rasal Singh, a member of NDTF and the varsity’s Academic Council called the strike “historic”.
"Justice should be done with the teachers of DU. Their demands are justified. For the last one decade, promotions and appointments have not happened. They are ending ad-hoc appointments. These problems should be treated with sensitivity," Singh added.
(With Inputs from PTI & ANI)
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