Alleging that several ad-hoc teachers were being arbitrarily dismissed from colleges, members of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association sat on a dharna outside the Vice-Regal Lodge here on Wednesday, demanding the university’s assurance that all these teachers have their jobs with them when the new academic sessions begins on July 24.
“The DUTA is of the firm view that this victimisation of ad-hoc teachers should stop immediately. The Vice-Chancellor had also claimed earlier that permanent appointments will be made before the new session begins. Not a single fresh appointment in any permanent post has been done till date,” said DUTA president Amar Deo Sharma, adding that workload of teachers was uncertain under the new four-year undergraduate programme and that they might lose their jobs if the colleges did not need their services.
“The University has taken no concrete steps to assuage the fear and humiliation faced by the ad-hoc teachers. Their service conditions are discriminatory and they are not entitled to medical leave and benefits, study leave or even maternity leave. Further humiliation is being heaped on them by keeping the matter of their continuation and their vacation salaries under a cloud of uncertainty,” said DUTA secretary S.D. Siddiqui, adding that from Thursday a DUTA team will start visiting colleges to ensure that the teachers retain their jobs and that their vacation salaries are paid.
As no officials came forward to meet them during the sit-in demonstration, following their protest some DUTA members submitted a memorandum containing their demands to the V-C’s office.
