DUTA Press Release, 8.6.2021

As part of the ongoing movement to demand justice for the 12 adhoc teachers  of Vivekananda College whose services were not renewed,  the DUTA held a two-day Online Protest Dharna starting from 7.6.2021. 

On the second day of the DUTA online Protest Dharna,  teachers of VNC shared their experiences of harassment and witch hunting.

Amongst other senior faculty,  Teachers-in-Charge of the Department of History and English joined the DUTA Online Protest Dharna. They were removed from the meeting of TiCs held yesterday by Dr Hina Nandrajog as they questioned her continuation in the chair despite the fact that she has not received necessary approval from the University to continue.

 

The DUTA finds it extremely unfortuate and shocking that the Acting Principal has not implemented the decision of the Governing Body (taken in its meeting held on 20.5.2021) to continue the services of the 12 teachers. This is subversion of the highest statutory body of the College.

Dr Hina Nandrajog  has created immense hardship for the 12 teachers and families by not renewing their services. These 12 teachers have been teaching in the college for the past several years. The longest serving teacher amongst these 12 has been teaching since 9.1.2014 and few others have joined in 2016 and 2018. Given the pandemic and decrease in the available new positions, this act of the Acting Principal has created  unimaginable suffering and uncertainties for the teachers. 

This is also a violation of the 5 December 2019 Record of Discussion, which is an agreement between the MoE, UGC, University of Delhi and DUTA. The Record of Discussion categorically states that ad-hoc teachers teaching against substantive vacant posts should continue till permanent appointments are made. 

The demand to remove Dr Hina Nandrajog has grown louder. Activists and teachers held the University responsible for being slow on the matter and for allowing her in the Office beyond 5 years. The DUTA protest demanded that the University should take concrete decisive action to remove her from the Office to save the  college. 

Teachers shared protest photos on social media in solidarity. Staff Associations  of several other colleges shared solidarity messages in the online protest Dharna. The DUTA will hold consultantion with Staff Associations of other colleges to intensify the movement in case the issue lingers any further. 

President, DUTA

Secretary, DUTA