DUTA PRESS RELEASE: 30.5.2015

Hindu College Teachers on Dharna for 40th Consecutive Day;
Teacher Protests by Boycotting DU Convocation

The Hindu College Staff Association and the DUTA have been on a continuous Dharna outside Hindu College gate since 25 March 2015. The college has been thrown in a state of unrest by the Governing Body by first terminating services of two teachers and later taking action against seven teachers who had represented to the LG against the corrupt practices of the Hindu college trustees. Teachers and students have been demanding immediate reinstatement of the two teachers who have been unlawfully terminated, and the reversal of the penalties that have been imposed on the seven whistleblower teachers by the Governing Body of Hindu College with the collusion of the Vice Chancellor. Mr. S. N. P. Punj, Chairman, Hindu College is running the Hindu College affairs like his private fiefdom in the recent times. Disregarding all institutional norms, he has interfered with every Staff Council decision in the college, even in issues of Admissions and Alumni Association – leading to widespread unrest in teachers and students. The DU VC has consistently aided him in his corrupt and authoritarian practices.

Even as the DUTA and the Hindu College Association have written to the VC several times seeking his intervention, the VC has turned a blind eye to the issue and continued to allow destruction of the academic and social environment of the college. Dr. Ratan Lal, one of the seven whistleblowers, today refused to receive his Doctorate from Prof. Dinesh Singh, in protest.

Please find enclosed Press Statement by the Hindu College Association on today’s Dharna at the Hindu College where teachers and students expressed solidarity with Dr. Ratan Lal.

NANDITA NARAIN
President, DUTA

HARISH KHANNA
Secretary, DUTA

Hindu College Staff Association Press Release

As you are aware that one of our teacher, Ratan Lal, has boycotted the 92nd convocation ceremony of University of Delhi held on 30th May, 2015. He had also submitted an appeal to the Vice-Chancellor expressing his concern with the manner in which University Administration maintained complete silence while teachers were being victimized by the Governing Body of Hindu College (copy enclosed). The Vice Chancellor is the Chief Executive Officer of the University, therefore, several representations were written to him for his intervention to alleviate the crisis of the college. However, university administration chose to turn a blind eye to the woes of Hindu College teachers. The Staff Association and DUTA have been jointly holding a protest Dharna since 25th of March. Citing this indifference of the University Administration, Ratan Lal, one amongst the penalized teachers and who was also to be awarded his PhD degree in this convocation decided to boycott the convocation on moral grounds.

While Delhi University 92nd convocation ceremony was going on, the Staff Association and DUTA also held its dharna in support of the boycott of the convocation ceremony by Ratan Lal, Associate Professor, Hindu College. The protestors wore black bands and badges, “Defend Free Speech, Stop victimizing Hindu College Teachers”, to register their protest against the authoritative administration.

The Dharna was attended by DUTA president Nandita Narain, Executive Council member Abha Dev Habib, Academic Council member Rudrashish Chakravorty. A large number of students, teachers and karamcharis also joined the Dharna in support of the cause.

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Delhi University Teachers’ Association

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