DUTA protest outside V-C's office

New Delhi: Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) on Wednesday demonstrated a protest inside Vice Chancellor's office regarding its August 28 circular, where ad-hoc teachers have come under the post of guest faculty. The tension at the university escalated after the circular, for it will affect more than 4,500 ad-hoc teachers inside the campus. Ad-hoc teachers are substitute teachers, who are hired on a permanent basis, which is only done in Delhi University. The pay ad-hoc teachers receive is monthly, unlike guest faculty who are paid per lecture and have a capacity of Rs 50,000.

"Our salaries will come down vehemently. There is a cap of Rs 50,000 for guest faculty teachers, meaning no matter how many lectures they give, their salary won't be more than the capacity decided by the UGC," said Sakshi, an ad-hoc teacher protesting inside the VC office.

Teachers who have been at the post of ad-hoc for more than 10 years will be reduced to the post of guest faculty. "After ad-hoc, we can apply for a permanent faculty post. But our promotions have been stopped," said Baljeet Kaur who teaches at Kalindi College and has been teaching as an ad-hoc teacher for nine years. She also said that their salary of November has also been stopped.

"We haven't received our November salary, which has been stopped. VC gave out a circular asking us to continue our examnation duties till Decmeber 3, after which a discussion will take place. But nothing after that has come out from his office," said Supriya, another ad-hoc teacher.

According to Supriya, an ad-hoc teacher who gives 16 lecture per week, is given a salary of about Rs. 90,000. However, this salary will be reduced to Rs.50,000. "Lectures will also increase from 16 per week to 24 per week," added Supriya.