DU teachers on warpath over sacking of ad hoc colleagues

In a show of solidarity, hundreds of Delhi University (DU) teachers protested outside the Vice Chancellors' office on Tuesday, demanding reinstatement of 40-plus ad hoc teachers, who were associated with the Law Faculty. After the recent interviews for faculty members, the Faculty of Law relieved around 40 ad hoc teachers for new teachers hired on a permanent basis.

The protesting teachers alleged that some of the teachers relieved had been working for 10-15 years with the department.

The Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) had on Monday given a call for a public rally from the Arts Faculty to the Vice Chancellor's office and later a demonstration on Tuesday.

The strike, which resulted in the suspension of most of the classes at the university, will continue on Wednesday as well.

"The showing up of teachers was unprecedented... Never before did so many teachers come out in support of ad hoc teachers from across the university colleges. Most classes were suspended for the day and the same condition will prevail even tomorrow (Wednesday)," DUTA Vice President Sudhanshu Kumar said.

Demanding justice for the removed faculties, the teachers' body had earlier condemned the university administration for its "callous attitude" and also demanded that proportion attributed to several criteria for promotion -- as per the Academic Performance Indicator (API) index -- be made public.

In addition to its long-standing demand for the absorption of all ad hoc faculty as permanent teachers, the teachers will on Wednesday also demand implementation of that clause in the Seventh Pay Commission which requires the university to contribute 30 per cent of the increased salary burden out of its purse.

"This will force the colleges to shift the financial burden to the students by increasing the fees... Can you expect students from the underprivileged background, who come from far away corners of the country, to afford Rs 50,000 for studying in DU," Kumar asked.

In their strike, the teachers were joined by the Delhi University and Colleges Karamchari Union, which has also called for a two-day shutdown.