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Press Release, 19.10.2012

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The simmering discontent of teachers and students in Delhi University against its Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dinesh Singh is gradually beginning to change into full-fledged anger. This was evident in the speeches and slogans that rent the air amidst the large gathering assembled at the continuing DUTA Indefinite Relay Hunger Strike today. Teachers from Indraprastha College for Women, Rajdhani College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences and Ramanujan College sat on Hunger Strike today. Academic Council members Monika Mishra, Sheo Dutt also sat on hunger Strike today. The DU V-C was described as an “institution-breaker” who has unleashed a wave of changes that threaten to dismember the university into fragments and dismantle all the structures that have sustained its unified collegial character so far.

The recently announced changes in the examination system came in for special flak. The University is perceived to be entirely washing its hands off the responsibility to conduct the exams and maintain its standards. The onus of the entire clerical work related to the exams is being put on teachers and individuals are being exposed to all contingencies that may arise out of the exams. The students are deeply perturbed by the decision to do away with secrecy and confidentiality and also raised questions about the possibility of teachers’ wards getting an unfair advantage over other candidates.

The misfortunes of SOL students who have been arbitrarily denied the flexibility of time to complete their degrees came up yet again as it was pointed out that the present University Administration has been, in an unprecedented way, ruthless towards its students. The V-C is an ardent believer in the ‘survival of the fittest’ – a credo which, teachers feel, echoes the law of the jungle. Teachers also condemned the V-C for pressing on with the salary cut for participating in the One-day Token Strike. The “No Work, No Pay” announced by the V-C is seen to be a political gesture through which the V-C has conveyed his fascist intolerance against anyone who dares to disagree with him or participates in any democratic action.

Yesterday the DUTA had called the V-C’s bluff on pseudo-reforms in the structure and content of courses by mobilizing a massive number of teachers and students for the “Barefoot March.” Today, the DUTA has also expressed its disenchantment with the governments at the State and center for failing to ensure justice and rule of law in the University. The situation of lawlessness which prevails in the University has been brought to the notice of the President of India, in his capacity as the Visitor of the University. The DUTA has shared all the evidence of statutory violations committed by Prof. Dinesh Singh with Shri Pranab Mukherjee. In return, Shri Mukherjee had promised to look into the matter expeditiously. The DUTA still awaits justice on this matter.

The DUTA warns the Union Government that if the situation of administrative stasis, non-engagement and despair in the University is allowed to persist, its action programme is bound to become militant and confrontational. The DUTA remains unfazed by the salary cut and threats of administrative action and its Executive will meet tomorrow to formally review the situation and take concrete steps to intensify the action.

S.D. Siddiqui, Secretary                                                      Amar Deo Sharma, President

https://duta.live

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