DUTA Letter to Staff Associations: DUTA decides to go on an Indefinite Strike from 4 December

To
President/Secretary/Office Bearers
Staff Associations
_________________
_________________
29.11.2019

Dear colleagues,

The Delhi University Principals’ Association (DUPA) has reportedly decided to put joining of ad-hoc teachers and disbursal of their salaries in abeyance, in its meeting held today. Their decision is on the basis of 28 August 2019 DU circular which mandates that only appointment of guest teachers can be made against substantive vacancies arising for the first time in the current academic session.

The DUTA finds it completely unacceptable that the Vice Chancellor, through the 28 August letter, denies appointment of full time teachers on adhoc vacancies till positions can be filled on permanent basis.  The DUTA has been protesting against this unacceptable letter and has been demanding its withdrawal. The DUTA views this letter as an attack on the stability of the University and the quality of education imparted by it.

The DUTA finds it extremely unfortunate and is anguished to see that the 28 August letter is now being interpreted by the DUPA further to deny livelihood to 4500 ad-hoc teachers who are already in service and have been working against substantive posts for past several years.

Responding to the new situation, wherein 4500 teachers have been shown the door, the DUTA has decided to intensify the stir by giving three working days’ time to the Vice Chancellor to agree to the following demands. If not met, the DUTA will go for an Indefinite Strike, starting from Wednesday, 4th December. Teachers will boycott evaluation, invigilation duties and all other official work.

The demands of the DUTA are as follows:

1) Withdrawal of 28 August DU circular and renewal of the services of all serving ad-hoc teachers.

2) Release of Option form and Promotion form as per Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) 2018, as the University has not held promotions of teachers for last 10 years.

3) Counting of past services for promotions as was granted by DU Ordinances.

4) Putting approval of Rosters on hold till more posts are sanctioned to colleges towards EWS Expansion so that teachers who have been working on ad-hoc basis for long are not displaced because of EWS reservation.

The DUTA Executive has also decided to continue this struggle till the MHRD/ UGC does not bring one-time Regulation for Absorption for serving ad-hoc and temporary teachers. These teachers have served the University for past several years. As has been done in several States for its universities, we demand that the MHRD brings one-time Regulation to bring stability and security for Institutions and teachers.

The DUTA will reach out to students, parents, leaders of political parties and concerned citizens at this critical juncture, to enlist mass support for its movement to save Delhi University.

In view of the changed situation, the DUTA Executive further decided the following change in the action programme passed by the GBM of 25.11.2019.

4 December 2019 (instead of 5 December), VC Gherao: Teachers will assemble at Arts Faculty Gate at 11 am. If the demands are not met, the DUTA will proceed on Indefinite Strike starting from 4 December.

The action programme at MHRD “Sansad Chalo”  scheduled for 4 December (as per the GBM Resolution of 25.11.2019) has been postponed to next week. The new schedule will be notified shortly.

Staff Associations are requested to hold meetings so that the DUTA teams can come and mobilise teachers. Staff Associations will also have to ensure that no official work is done by teachers during the Strike.

In solidarity

Rajib Ray President, DUTA Rajinder Singh Secretary, DUTA