DUTA Press Release: 9/04/2018

Large numbers of teachers joined the Candle Light Vigil organised by the DUTA at 5 p.m at ITO outside the UGC. Protesting against the 5th March UGC/MHRD letter instructing colleges and university to make department-wise roster instead of the current system where the University/college is taken as a unit, teachers raised slogans demanding its withdrawal and in defense of social justice.

There is unanimous agreement among teachers across the country that if the roster is made department-wise, and not taking college as a unit, it will drastically reduce the number of seats reserved for SC/ST/OBC and delay the attainment of required percentages as mandated by the Constitution.

Teachers also see this last minute imposition of a new roster system as a ploy to further delay the Appointments process. This is a huge set-back for thousands of teachers languishing in ad-hoc positions who were hoping for the permanent appointments to start under the orders of the High Court. This sudden U-turn by the MHRD and the UGC has pushed the process into deep uncertainty.

The DUTA demands immediate withdrawal of the 5th March UGC/MHRD notification and the continuation of the 200-point roster. The DUTA also demands that the MHRD immediately files the SLP against the Allahabad High Court judgement so that the appointment process can resume and temporary and ad hoc teachers can be absorbed/regularised. The DUTA will step up its agitation if these demands are not met.