Press Release, 19.10.2013

Appointments to fill 4000 plus vacant posts have not started despite repeated promises made by the University Administration. Ad hoc teachers and Guest Lecturers are faced with harrowing uncertainty and deprived of basic rights. The delay in permanent appointments has caused severe demoralization in the teaching community and is bound to cause a flight of talent away from the teaching profession. The recent EC decisions on Screening of candidates, modalities for implementing the Reservation roster and composition of Selection Committees threaten to derail the appointment process since they are not in consonance with legal requirements and the principles of social and academic justice. The DUTA demands that the University reconsider these decisions, take prompt corrective steps and start the appointment process without any further delay.

A large number of teachers attended the DUTA dharna today, 19 October at the VC’s Office and expressed their anguish against the DU administration for implementing Screening Criteria. The screening criteria quantify academic and teaching work of the applicants. Such a system, however, fails to evaluate the quality of their work.  Over 4000 teaching positions are lying vacant. Teachers have been working in ad-hoc capacities against these positions for many years now. They have been keenly waiting for the selection process to begin. The DUTA President reiterated that any criteria that deny them the right to appear before the selection committee is not acceptable. All candidates eligible under the UGC’s Minimum Eligibility Criteria (55% in Master’s with NET) must be invited for the interviews.
The modalities adopted by the University for implementation of the 200 Point Post-based Roster for teaching positions, taking a College or the University as a unit, are not in consonance with the directives of the UGC, MHRD and DoPT (GOI). The DUTA has demanded that the 200-point roster be implemented from 2.7.1997 as per DoPT (GOI) Notifications, while Shortfall and Backlog in reserved appointments be determined for the whole college/university and not department-wise.

The DUTA has also warned the University to correct the composition of the Selection Committees so that they are as per the UGC Regulations 2010.

The DUTA is of the view that the University Administration is deliberately trying to go ahead with irregularities and violations in its appointments process because it is insincere about appointments and wants the process to get stayed or suspended. Armed with support and abetment provided by the Government, it wants to bring all teaching jobs under a contract system.

Members expressed their anguish at the manner in which the Government is backing the Vice-Chancellor in these constitutional violations and in implementing anti-teacher and anti-academic measures. Those who spoke from the platform included senior activists, EC members, elected DUTA Executive Members, Office Bearers of Staff Associations and President, Delhi University SC/ST/ OBC Teachers Forum.

The teachers held the Government responsible for not taking measures to force the Vice Chancellor to fill the vacant positions. Teachers expressed apprehensions that this might be in consonance with XIIth plan which recommends “for-profit” in Higher Education and reduction in expenditure on Higher Education by bringing in the concept of Adjunct Professor. Teachers also drew connections between the academic restructuring with the design of not filling up posts.

DUTA reiterates its resolve to strengthen the movement on the issue of filling of vacant positions and against anti-people Educational Policies. It warns the Government against continuing to support this Vice Chancellor in ruining a premier university.