DUTA reconsiders stand, joins admission process

The teachers’ body was forced to reconsider its stand after severe criticism from all the quarters and University administration’s decision to deploy non-teaching staff for admission. 

“The teachers will work on their assignments related to ongoing admission process so that freshers are not harassed,” said Rajesh Jha, Joint Secretary, DUTA. 

He, however, emphasised that the teachers will continue their boycott for evaluation of answer sheets of the annual examination of the University. 

Earlier, on July 5, the DUTA executive council had resolved to withdraw admission boycott. The meeting of the general body was called for formal approval of the decision. The DU teachers are on strike for over two months demanding roll back of UGC regulations for appointment and promotions, permanent recruitment of adhoc staff and filling of vacant teaching posts. 

The teaches’ body has also written a letter to Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar highlighting the shortage of teachers in the varsity and other demands. DUTA president Nandita Narain said that the number of students in DU had increased over the years while thousands of posts of teachers were lying vacant. 

“Despite an increase in seats due to reservations for OBC students since 2007 and the promise of additional posts to universities, over 4,500 posts in DU remain vacant with teachers working on ad-hoc or guest basis,” said Narain. 

“Highly qualified teachers are working in extremely humiliating, uncertain and exploitative conditions, having to seek renewal every four months, struggling for their vacation, salary and being denied increments, maternity leaves and medical leaves,” she added.