DUTA Letter to VC, 29.05.18 – Evaluation Boycott and Mass Hunger Strike
Prof Yogesh Tyagi Date: May 29, 2018
The Vice Chancellor
University of Delhi
Subject: DUTA Appeal
Dear Prof. Tyagi,
You are aware that teachers have been on a total Evaluation Boycott since 9 May 2018, for almost three weeks now, which reflects their anger and unhappiness over the fact that crucial issues relating to their working conditions have remained unresolved for past several years. Issues of permanent appointments/ absorption and regularization of Ad hoc and temporary teachers, promotions and pension are affecting teachers in their professional and personal lives and this denial of their basic rights is a cause for huge demoralization. The DUTA has been compelled to adopt this mode of protest as a last resort because of the complete apathy of the authorities towards teachers’ grievances and issues and disregard of teachers’ feedback on policy matters by the Government.
While we appreciate your immediate response to the DUTA’s letter dated 7 May 2018 in arranging a meeting of the DUTA Office Bearers with the PVC and the Registrar, it is unfortunate that no steps have been taken to implement any of the matters that were discussed at the meeting.
The 5 March 2018 UGC Notification to revise the Roster for teaching posts based on department/subject has completely stalled the appointment process and will result in displacement of large numbers of adhoc teachers in the month of July. We have been demanding that the MHRD/UGC withdraw the Notification. We are shocked that the University, despite repeated requests, has done nothing in this regard despite the High Court order laying down a timeline for appointments. Even where the appointments are not dependent on the roster, such as the minority colleges, the University has not taken any steps to ensure that appointment process can begin and be completed. We fail to understand why the University is refusing to respond on an issue of such vital importance for its academic functioning.
We also wish to know if the University has taken any concrete steps to resolve promotion related issues. We wish to find out if there is any advancement towards resolution of the issue of Counting of Past Services. This issue concerns thousands of teachers. It has to be ensured that those who have worked get their due. What steps has the University taken to clear those promotion cases in Colleges and Departments, which only require processing? Has the University put in place any schedule for organizing Selection Committees to clear the promotions cases of those who have been waiting for long years? Many teachers in colleges and Departments are about to retire. We wish to find out what concrete steps have been taken to ensure that the colleagues get their due.
We wish to find out what concrete steps the DU administration has taken to resolve the pension issues. Has the University taken any steps to ensure release of pension those cases that are not sub-judice, namely category 3 as well as the ‘options’ category who are in GPF with pension accounts/numbers for the last twenty years?
The utter lack of will or disinterest in solving even those issues that can be resolved at the University level is a reflection of apathy towards teachers and the academic well-being of the institution.
Teachers will join Satyagraha – Mass Hunger Strike from 10 am to 5 pm tomorrow, 30 May at Parliament Street against the lack of permanent appointments, promotion and pension, attack on Reservation Policy, privatisation of public funded higher education and downgrading of teaching profession. Future course of action will be decided in the meeting of the General Body on 1 June.
We once again appeal to you to meet the DUTA Office Bearers urgently so that the issues concerning teachers can be speedily resolved.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
| Rajib Ray President, DUTA |
Vivek Chaudhary Secretary, DUTA |
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