DUTA Resolution on Aurobindo College, 06.12.2013

The DUTA Executive condemns in strongest terms the Principal of Shri Aurobindo College (Morning) for having the gate of the college locked and calling the police to restrain DUTA from entering the college premises on 23rd Nov, 2013. The DUTA office bearers and members including lady members were manhandled by the police and a few temporary members of the non-teaching staff misbehaved with the teachers on the orders of the Principal. Shockingly, two DUTA members were even detained by the police despite the peaceful protest. The DUTA had visited the college to persuade the Governing Body members not to hold the interview for the post of Vice-Principal of the college in violation of the norms of following the seniority among the Associate Professors of the college. The University representatives on the Governing Body met the teachers and assured them that the interviews were not being held. The DUTA Executive notes with utter dismay that despite these assurances, the Governing Body has sent the name of one teacher to be appointed as Vice-Principal without holding any interview. The DUTA Executive condemns this illegal appointment and demands that this be cancelled immediately.

DUTA takes serious note of the blatant violation of the long-standing convention of appointment of Vice-Principal by rotation according to seniority by the Principal who not only illegally removed the incumbent Vice-Principal Dr. Meenakshi Gupta in middle of her term.  What is shocking is that the Principal even refused to honour the requisition by five Governing Body members to call G.B. meeting to discuss the issue of Dr. Meenakshi Gupta. DUTA also condemns the role of the University whose representatives (one of them being chairman of G.B.) in a truncated GB violated the long established norms of seniority for the appointment of Vice-Principal.

DUTA, therefore, demands the cancellation of the appointment of the Vice-Principal done illegally on 23rd Nov, 2013 and that Dr. Meenakshi Gupta be allowed to complete her term as Vice-Principal. DUTA has also received representation by the Staff Association of the College alleging several administrative and financial irregularities on the part of the Principal. DUTA, after considering the representation, resolves to demand that an impartial inquiry into the administrative and financial irregularities be instituted by the Governing Body at the earliest.

Further, DUTA resolve to undertake actions such as writing to the Police Commissioner of Delhi about the role of the police, organize Dharna at the college and press conference to highlight the irregularities committed by the Principal of Shri Aurobindo college.