DU: Ad-hoc Teachers Shown the Door, DUTA Observes One-Day Strike in Protest

New Delhi: Hundreds of teachers at Delhi University stopped work on Monday to protest against the “displacement” of serving teachers amidst the ongoing selection process for permanent faculty in colleges and departments. Led by Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), the protesting staff demanded the absorption of all ad-hoc teachers.

The long-pending selection process for permanent faculty, which was initiated last month in the central varsity, has not gone down well with the teachers’ association which fears that many of the ad-hoc teachers, who have been serving for years, will be shown the doors – in what was also witnessed during similar processes in the past.

According to DUTA, this year, too, several ad-hoc teachers have not been selected for permanent roles in their teaching positions. Pressing for “zero displacements”, the association called the DU administration on Monday to bring out a special provision to retain the displaced ad-hoc teachers against the various vacant positions in different colleges and departments.

Monday’s strike action was “100% successful” and was observed in almost all the colleges and departments of the varsity, AK Bhagi, president, DUTA, told NewsClick.

“DUTA firmly stands for absorption of the ad-hoc teachers in the university,” he said.

In a resolution passed earlier last week, the DUTA executive body noted with “great dismay” that there have been “displacements” of serving teachers in the ongoing interviews.

“Displacement of serving teachers has taken place in DBC (Deshbandhu College), Ramjas and Lakshmibai College, as well as in the Department of Commerce and Psychology. The DUTA condemned the displacements and urged the College administrations to review any such decision as it is a matter of livelihood of those who have served the institution,” the resolution read.

Nandita Narain of Delhi Teachers’ Front on Monday informed NewsClick that four ad-hoc teachers in Deshbandhu College and five in Lakshmibai College were not selected for permanent roles in their teaching positions.

“This is nothing but a pre-meditated attempt to make appointments of certain people while showing the doors to ad-hoc teachers, who have served for many years, on the basis of non-academic reasons,” she said.

Narain added that the fear of displacements among the ad-hoc has always been there. According to rough estimates, there are currently nearly 4,500 ad-hoc teachers at DU. The displacements of these teachers, when it comes to the selection of a permanent faculty, also affect the quality of education within the central varsity, Narain underlined on Monday.

Moreover, DUTA’s resolution further noted that several Colleges had advertised teaching vacancies. However, their rosters are not displayed on their websites.

“Some Colleges have not advertised the Second Tranche Posts. The DUTA demands that all sanctioned posts be advertised, and to ensure transparency, Colleges should display the 200-Point roaster duly approved by the University from time to time,” it added.

The DUTA has also given a call for a three-day strike from October 18 to press, among others, for absorption of the ad-hoc teachers and to protest against the Delhi government for the continuous “financial strangulation”, resulting in non-payment of salaries and dues in 12 Colleges that are funded by it.