Letter
Published
Letter of 29 May 2014 to Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister for Human Resource Development
Details
- Record no.
- 9774
- Type
- Letter
- Published
- From
- DUTA
- Categories
Full text
Smt. Smriti Irani
Hon'ble Minister
Human Resource Development
29 May 2014
Sub: Appeal
for Urgent Intervention in Delhi University
Respected Smt. Irani,
On behalf of the teachers
of Delhi University, we extend to you our felicitations on assuming the
responsibility of an important ministry that would help shape the legitimate
aspirations of the people of India.
As one of India's premier
universities, Delhi University embodies the hopes and aspirations of thousands
of young people from across the country and from different socio-economic
backgrounds wishing to study here. We write to appeal for your urgent
intervention to end the crisis that is destroying this institution and the
quality of education that it can offer to its students. We hope in particular
for your urgent intervention with regard to the following issues:
A Four-Year
Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) was imposed with undue haste from July 2013 despite widespread criticism from
teachers and students of the University, from MPs and leaders of several
political parties, from intellectuals across the country and from the media.
While it was advertised as a move to increase employability and upgrade the
quality of learning, it will in fact result in the opposite. With the
conclusion of two semesters, the FYUP has resulted in widespread frustration
and decline in students’ attendance. The course will not only undermine the
quality of education, it will significantly increase the costs of education for
students, it is biased against students from underprivileged backgrounds and it
is in conflict with the National Education Policy that lays down a uniform 10+2+3
system for the entire country. Moreover, the course was imposed without
providing adequate infrastructure and with 50% of teaching posts vacant. Both
the DUTA and the DUSU have demanded its immediate roll-back and measures to
bring relief to the batch of students already admitted. (See Annexure I)
More than 4000
teaching posts, around 50% of the total faculty strength, have been allowed to
remain vacant for several years. Teachers have been working on ad hoc or guest basis against
these posts. As a result, there is grave instability in teaching-learning
processes, adversely affecting both teachers and students. After long
struggles, the University Administration was forced to resume regular
appointments, but this was deliberately done in a manner that defies academic
logic and legal directives. As a result, the status of the few appointments
made over the last months remains doubtful. Apart from the teaching posts, more
than 5000 non-teaching posts are also vacant and most of the administrative
work is being carried out by extremely low paid contract-staff. (See Annexure II)
Not filling posts has
also been a means for flouting the mandatory provision for Reservations
enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The University adopted the mandatory 200-Points Reservation
Roster only in September 2013. However, the modalities approved for its
implementation violate the directives of the Government of India. These
modalities have been challenged by some teachers representing the concerns of
SC/ST/OBCs in the High Court where Delhi University has arrogantly asserted
that it is not bound to obey the directives of the Government. (See Annexure III)
The most extreme
manifestation of the crisis in Delhi University lies in the complete refusal
by the Vice-Chancellor to have any dialogue with the DUTA as also with the
elected bodies of the students and non-teaching staff, the Delhi University
Students Union (DUSU) and the Delhi University & College Karamchari Union
(DUCKU). This is unprecedented in the history of this University. With the
complete cessation of dialogue, frustrations about mounting and unresolved
grievances have grown. The Vice-Chancellor and his team have been particularly
harsh in cracking down against any criticism of the FYUP and have made the DUTA
and the DUSU targets of open attacks.
The Vice-Chancellor
has virtually imposed an Emergency in the University. He has made the statutory
decision-making bodies irrelevant and assumed the authority to rule by fiat and
the misuse of Emergency Powers. To silence all criticism of his misgovernance
and ill-devised “reforms”, he has
imposed an actionable Code of Conduct on teachers to empower himself to take
direct action against any dissenting voices. Patently false charges have been
slapped against teachers and students. The University community was utterly
shocked by the previous Government’s decision to award such a man a Padma
Shree, who has done nothing but bring this premier institution to the verge of
ruin. The academic health of Delhi University cannot hope to be restored if his
reign of terror is allowed to continue. (See Annexure IV)
It is in this context
that we appeal for your urgent intervention in public-interest. The admission
process for the next Academic session of the University is due to begin from 2
June. The FYUP was imposed on the 54,000 students admitted to the University in
July 2013. The same fate should not be imposed on the students to be admitted
this year.
Most recently, reports
have appeared in the press of a letter from the UGC telling the University that
it cannot offer two types of degrees, the FYUP as well as the three year
degree, which is still offered in the School of Open Learning (SOL). There are fears that instead of
rolling back the FYUP and reverting to the three year degree, the University
will downgrade the degree courses in SOL to certificate/diploma level courses. This would also
jeopardise the careers and aspirations of the lakhs of students admitted to
SOL, which provides a window of opportunity to some of the most marginalised
sections of our country.
Further urgent measures
are needed to resolve the issues outlined above and described in detail in the
annexures. The University community fervently hopes that you and the new
Government will provide immediate relief and help to halt the destruction of
this University.
We will be very obliged
if you give us an opportunity to meet you at the earliest, so that we can
explain the issues to you in detail.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Nandita Narain, President
Harish Khanna, Secretary
Harish Khanna, Secretary
Encl:
2. Annexure II: Note on Appointments
3. Annexure III: Note on Violation of Reservation Roster
4. Annexure IV: Functioning of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dinesh Singh
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Cite this record
Delhi University Teachers’ Association. "Letter of 29 May 2014 to Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister for Human Resource Development." 29 May 2014. https://duta.live/2014/05/29/letter-of-29-may-2014-to-smt-smriti-irani-minister-for-human-resource-development/.