Press Release: 28 December 2018

DUTA demands Bill in Parliament for continuation of 200 point reservation roster taking University/ College as Unit – mobilises support of political parties and parliamentarians

                           

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) had sought the support of Political Parties and Members of Parliament on the issue of continuation of the 200 point Reservation Roster for teaching positions taking the University/ College as a unit.

Leaders who were present in today’s Press Conference in support of the DUTA’s demand included Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPI(M), Binay Viswam, Member, Rajya Sabha, from CPI, Prof M.V. Rajeev Gowda, Member, Rajya Sabha, Congress, Udit Raj, Member, Lok Sabha, BJP, Prof. Manoj Jha, Member, Rajya Sabha, RJD, veteran parliamentarian Sharad Yadav, Loktantrik Janta Dal and Anupam Kumar from AAP.

Parliamentarians and leaders of political parties who attended the Press Conference demanded the correct implementation of the 200 point  reservation roster for teaching posts on the principle of taking the University/ College as a unit so that the constitutionally mandated percentages of 15%/ 7.5% and 27% for reservation for SC/ ST/ OBC respectively can be attained and maintained. The speakers unequivocally demanded that the government brings an appropriate bill before Parliament for adoption and legally finds a way to uphold the Constitutional provision for reservation.

Sitaram Yechury said that this attack on reservation policy is part of the larger onslaught on higher education. He assured CPM’s support to the DUTA and promised to get it raised in parliament. Binay Viswam expressed solidarity with DUTA on this issue and said that BJP Government has failed the people of India on the issue of reservation in teaching positions. Udit Raj, while expressing support to DUTA, raised the issue of denial of the Rajeev Gandhi fellowship to SC/ST by the Government and demanded reservation in judiciary. Manoj Jha said that education policies implemented under Modi Sarkar are geared towards pushing the marginalized section outside the ambit of higher education. Commercialisation of public funded higher education is yet another way to deny education and jobs to Dalit-Bhahujan samaj. Sharad Yadav expressed solidarity with the demand of the DUTA and called for a nationwide movement on this issue as he believed that the Government’s inaction on the matter was intentional.  Rajeev Gowda explained how Modi Government is destroying the democratic and constitutional values in the country. It is dividing the country for petty political gains and expressed solidarity. Anupam Kumar expressed solidarity with DUTA and criticised the Government for denying SC, ST and OBC their legitimate and constitutional dues.

At the joint Press Conference, speakers endorsed and supported the demand raised by the Delhi University Teachers’ Association that, in view of the developments in the matter as a result of the Orders of the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court and the letters issued by the UGC on 5th March and 19 July 2018, the Government immediately brings an appropriate bill before Parliament for adoption and legally finds a way to uphold the constitutional provision for reservation. The DUTA has also been demanding the withdrawal of the 5th March letter as well as Government action in the light of the 30 November 2018 Order of the Hon’ble High Court putting in abeyance the 19 July letter that had directed universities not to go ahead with the appointment process. The DUTA fears that this recent development will make universities start the recruitment process based on the incorrect principle of making Department/ subject wise rosters.

The leaders who participated in the press conference assured the DUTA that they would press for the resolution of the issue in appropriate fora including Parliament

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