The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) organised a massive dharna outside the VC’s Office to protest the vindictive action of the outgoing VC to constitute a Fact-finding Committee against Ms. Nandita Narain, the DUTA President. Over a thousand teachers participated in the action programme, including ex-Presidents of DUTA like Shriram Oberoi, N.K. Kakkar, Aditya N Mishra, Amar Deo Sharma and Shaswati Mazumdar. Prominent participants also included I. M. Kapahy, former EC member and presently member UGC, and representatives of Teachers’ Associations of other universities in Delhi. Students of various colleges including St. Stephens’ College and students’ organisations also participated in solidarity.
Speakers from across the political spectrum were forthright in condemning this vengeful act of the DU VC. They underlined the fact that it was a vengeful attack not on an individual but on the teachers’ collective, begun through complaints, immediately after the DUTA exposed the various illegalities committed by the VC and his team through the White Paper and revived immediately after the VC was denied extension and instead, ordered to demit office on 28 October.
Resolutions of solidarity and condemning the DU administration for this vindictive action have also come from prominent teachers’ organisations like AIFUCTO, FEDCUTA, CCTAD, JNUTA and IGNOUTA. Representatives of IGNOUTA also attended the Joint Protest in solidarity. Over twenty Staff Associations of various colleges have held meetings in this short period and passed resolutions condemning the vindictive action by a VC.
Nandita Narain was asked to depose before the FFC at 11.30 am today. The University denied her full details of the charges, or information regarding the authority under which the FFC was constituted and the composition of the FFC. It further refused her request for two weeks time to respond to the complaints sent by the Registrar’s Office. Following this, Nandita Narain has moved to the High Court on the matter.
After Ms. Narain informed the Registrar of her inability to depose before the FFC based on legal advice, she was informed by Meenakshi Sahay (Officer assisting the FFC) that the FFC “takes cognisance” of her “unapproved absence” which was “a serious lapse” and asked her to appear at 2 pm. Another communication was sent at 2 pm, asking her to appear at 3 pm. This indicates the VC’s unholy haste to to take action quickly. The case filed in the High Court has been admitted today and is listed for tomorrow.
The DUTA will fight the VC’s vengeful machinations tooth and nail and also continue to put pressure on the authorities to take steps to bring him to book for the several illegalities committed by him and his relentless attempts to destroy the University.
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