The DUTA intensified its agitation demanding the withdrawal of the illegal suspension of two teachers of Hindu College, by staging a joint dharna along with the Delhi University and College Karamchari Union outside the venue of the meeting of the Governing Body.

Shockingly, the issue of suspension of the two teachers by the Chairman, without even waiting for their reply to the show cause notice issued to them, had not even been put on the agenda of the meeting. Neither the reply of the teachers to the show cause notice, nor the report of the Grievance Committee of the Staff Council, that has held the complaint as false and fabricated, was shown to the members of the Governing Body either before or after the suspension, or tabled at the meeting of the GB.

DUTA Office bearers had met the Chairman twice in the last two months and pointed out that the manner in which severe action was been taken against two teachers on the basis of a complaint filed by two other teachers, without even hearing the side of the accused, is in clear contravention of rules and procedures governing disciplinary action against employees, and violates all principles of natural justice. The continued callous disregard to the appeals by DUTA, the Staff Association of the College and the report of the Grievance Committee made it evident that the malafide and biased behaviour of the Chairman in collusion with the Vice-Chancellor, who had approved of the suspension, was part of a larger agenda to create disaffection within the faculty and destabilize the college.

The dharna was attended by hundreds of teachers from various colleges  and turned into a gherao when it was learnt that the Chairman was refusing to allow a discussion on the matter even under ‘any other business with the permission of the Chair’. Undaunted by the large policepresence that had been summoned by the college authorities, the dharna and gherao went on beyond 9.30 pm. A delegation of Office Bearers of DUTA, DUCKU and the Hindu College Staff Association were allowed to enter and present a memorandum to the members of the Governing Body at the end of its meeting. The delegation, including the newly elected MLA from AAP and Secretary of DUTA, Dr. Harish Khanna, made a fervent appeal for withdrawal of suspension of the two colleagues in the light of their replies, the report of the Grievance Committee and the resolution of the Staff Association. Dr. Khanna, in particular, emphasized that minor inter-personal skirmishes should be settled within the Staff Association or by calling both parties and effecting a reconciliation. Using such minor differences to penalize only one of the two parties in this disproportionate, one-sided and high-handed manner, smacks of politics having been played by the University authorities and the college management.  This kind of approach could quickly destroy the harmonious working relationship of the management with the faculty, which would be detrimental to the health of this prestigious institution.

In response to the appeal, the members of the Governing Body agreed to hold a special meeting on the issue around the 12th of January in which the matter would be resolved. The Chairman, Mr. Punj, came out and addressed the teacher and karamcharis gathered outside. Following his assurance, the dharna was called off, with the understanding that the agitation would be further intensified if the suspension was not withdrawn on that day.