DUTA Press Release, 7.11.2015

The DUTA strongly protests against the injustice and victimisation of the Librarian Ms. Gyanwati of Sri Aurobindo College Evening. Ms. Gyanwati has been victimised by the current OSD, Dr. Prashant Kumar, subsequent to her filing a case of harassment against him in 2012. Under the direction of the DCW, the Governing Body of the college had set up a subcommittee to enquire into the matter. However, the term of the Governing Body expired before the subcommittee submitted its report. Thereafter the truncated Governing Body carried out a series of vindictive actions against Ms. Gyanwati at the behest of the OSD. These include suspension without any stated charges. Since the Executive Council approval on 20th July, 2015 of the reconstituted Governing Bodies of all Delhi Government colleges, the truncated Governing Body had no locus standi thereafter. Therefore its Emergency meeting  on 24th July, 2015 where Ms. Gyanwati was ordered compulsory retirement, conducted without declaring an agenda, and violating several procedures is illegal and all decisions taken in that meeting are null and void.

The DUTA demands that in the light of the glaring procedural violations in the entire matter starting with her suspension, Ms. Gyanwati's suspension be revoked and she be honourably re-instated with restoration of her full salary along with the arrears from the date of her illegal suspension. The DUTA  Executive has further demanded that strict action, including removal from the post of OSD, be taken against the OSD, Dr. Prashant Kumar for his abuse of office to retaliate against a complaint of harassment filed against him.

The DUTA Executive members along with hundreds of teacher activists took part in a dharna at Sri Aurobindo College today during the first meeting of the reconstituted Governing Body. The DUTA takes strong exception to the fact that even today, Ms. Gyanwati, who has been an employee of the college for thirty years, was initially not allowed to enter the college premises at the behest of the OSD. DUTA along with Staff Association representatives of the college met the Governing Body to request them to allow Ms. Gyanwati to enter the premises to take part in this peaceful Dharna, upon which she was permitted to. The DUTA appealed to the Governing Body to revoke the compulsory retirement of Ms. Gyanwati which was illegally made by the truncated Governing Body in its meeting on the 24th of July. Thereafter, the College authorities assured the protesting teachers that a review committee has been set up to look into this matter and that this committee will deliver its report in a time-bound manner.