DUTA Letter to Sh. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ reg. Intervention to End Present Crisis in Delhi University

Sh. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’                           

Hon’ble Minister, Human Resources Development
Shastri Bhavan
New Delhi – 110001

3.12.2019

Subject: Request for intervention to end present Crisis in Delhi University

Dear Shri Pokhriyal,

On the behalf of Delhi University Teacher’s Association, we would like to appeal to you to intervene immediately to end the present crisis in Delhi University which emerged due to 28 August 2019 letter issued by the University. The Letter asked colleges and Departments to “appoint guest faculty against all new vacancies arising for first time in the new academic session” (Annexure I). The letter is being used to deny appointments of ad-hoc teachers against substantive posts, hence adversely impacting the teaching-learning with many classes having remained unmet in the current semester. Many ad-hoc teachers who have served the University and its colleges for long years have become victims of this grossly unjust and arbitrary decision.

Many college Principals have now issued notices saying that joining of ad-hoc teachers have been kept in abeyance till the University issues clarification on the 28 August 2019 letter. Salaries of ad-hoc teachers have also been put on hold in majority colleges.

The DUTA is of the firm opinion that the chaos and crisis can only be ended through an unconditional withdrawal of the 28 August 2019 letter. The letter has no basis and the matter was never brought to the Academic Council or Executive Council for discussion. We wish to highlight that the appointment of teachers on ad-hoc basis has been one of the good practices followed by Delhi University and is provided by Ordinance XII and Executive Council Resolution of 2007. Statutory bodies have always considered it absolutely essential that sanctioned regular vacancy should be filled on full-time basis only. Provision for ad-hoc appointments with regular workload was deemed necessary to maintain the stability of teaching-learning.

As you know, none of the earlier UGC Regulations provided for ad-hoc appointments as such but this provision was allowed in the best interest of departments, colleges and teachers. In 2014 after the withdrawal of FYUP, the UGC had directed the University to give rejoining of ad-hoc teachers, thereby acknowledging this form of engagement (Annexure II). Also, the DUTA has written numerous letters to the UGC and the MHRD from time to time on several issues related to ad-hoc teachers including the uncertainties they have recently faced during controversy over teaching Roster or implementation of EWS. The lasting solution to the recurring problems related to prolonged ad-hocism in Delhi University lies in a one time regulation for absorption of all temporary and adhoc teachers. The DUTA has been demanding this for a long time as is reflected in series of communication and representation made to you time to time. In fact, the DUTA has been raising the demand for a one-time Regulation for Absorption of all temporary and ad-hoc teachers.

We find it extremely unfortunate that Professor Yogesh Kumar Tyagi has unilaterally issued the 28 August 2019 letter. If allowed to be implemented, it will destabilize and severely compromise the quality of teaching-learning across colleges and departments.

We also wish to point out that to treat guest appointment as a viable model of employment is equally unfortunate as these teachers do not have any rights.  Moreover, guest teachers have a very limited role to play in the day to day processes of teaching, continuous evaluation, practicals and conduct of examinations. The University has hence always deemed it necessary to limit guest appointments to maximum 10% of the sanctioned strength, in order to cover short-term exigencies. In the absence of adequate permanent faculty, adhoc teachers have mainly shouldered the academic and co-curricular responsibilities across colleges and departments.

The 28 August 2019 letter is hence an impulsive move that has far reaching adverse consequences. It is an attack on the teaching profession itself. We demand that this crisis be ended by its withdrawal. We demand that all serving ad-hoc teachers be given renewal and their salaries be released.

Teachers have continued to work for students and their institutions despite the fact that majority of them have been denied appointments and promotions in DU for last 10 years. Today we are facing an acute crisis.  Presently over 4500 teachers are working on ad-hoc basis. Refusing renewal of their services and putting their salaries on hold is completely unacceptable to DUTA. The DUTA has been forced to give a call of Indefinite Strike starting from tomorrow, 4 December 2019. Teachers will boycott all exam related work and other official duties.

We hope that you will intervene to resolve the immediate crisis and ask the University to withdraw the 28 August 2019 letter with immediate effect. Further, we reiterate that one-time Regulation for Absorption of working ad-hoc/temporary teachers to put these every-day uncertainties for such a large number to rest.

Thanking you,

With warm regards,

Rajib Ray President, DUTA Rajinder Singh Secretary, DUTA Encl: Annexure I Annexure II