The biggest teachers’ body of the central university has decided to organized dharna in the constituency of HRD Minister Sibal considering the inaction of the minister regarding DU’s affairs and tacit support to the Prof. Deepak Pental to continue with the office of Vice Chancellor despite expiry of the term. The DUTA has also decided to seek support from teachers associations of all central universities.

“The GB took serious note of the indifference shown by Kapil Sibal, Minister of HRD, toward the grave situation prevailing in the University where Prof. Pental has grossly undermined the Authorities of Delhi University, due decision making, academic debate and deliberation with regard to teaching learning process. This indifference is nothing but a support to the illegal VC in his for his attempt to impose an ill-considered semesterisation scheme against the overwhelming academic opinion that the quality undergraduate education in a large affiliating university like Delhi University would be adversely affected by semesterisation”, DUTA said in a statement after the General Body meeting.

The GB also condemned Prof. Pental for action relating to threatening teachers with wage cut, demanding that teachers give an undertaking that they carry out illegal orders issued by him as pre-requisites for payment of salary. The GB asked teachers not to sign any undertaking or attendance register.
DUTA-GB has also decided to observe general strike from Monday, 25 October, dharna at every college on 25-26 October, staff association meeting on 27th October and march to MHRD on 28th October. Apart from these decision to organize dharnas / demonstrations at the Parliamentary constituency HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal has also been taken. However, dates in this regard will be decided later.

Later on a delegation of teachers’ representatives met the union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal too and presented a representation in this regard. According to Aditya Narayan Mishra, President, FEDCUTA, the minister has assured the teachers to look into teachers’ demand. The minister also instructed ministry officials to look into demands.

Deshbandhu College (Evening) of Delhi University has decided to not celebrate its Foundation Day. The college administration has taken the decision in this regard considering the fact that the college is in the process of separation with its parent Deshbandhu College (morning). But the staffs and college students are nor happy with the move. The college used to celebrate its Foundation Day on August 3rd.

FEDCUTA welcomes government’s move

The FEDCUTA has appreciated the move of the Central Government to increase the age of retirement of High Court judges from 62 to 65 saying that it would bring uniformity in the retirement age of High Court judges and Supreme Court judges in the country.
“This move is positive in many respects. Firstly, it is only very few High Court judges, who become Supreme Court judges. Therefore those who do not get chance to become Supreme Court judge retire earlier. Secondly, this would give more time to experience senior judges of High Court to deal with their work / cases. Thirdly, position or seniority in the employees in the Government Organizations does not make difference in the retirement age”, the teachers’ body of all central universities said in a statement. FEDCUTA urges the Central Government to finalize and implement its announced move at the earliest.

BBE: Fresh counseling after the allegations

Several admissions have been cancelled in Bachelor of Business Economics (BBE) during the counseling at South Campus after the allegations of irregularities in the counseling. Parents and students alleged that the university was considering the candidature of those students who did not participated earlier during their turn. On this the Director, South Campus intervened into the matter and stopped counseling. The process will take place on Wednesday once again.

It is notable that HRD Minister has today told in the Parliament that government will implement the semester system in the universities despite resistance but at the same time he has also said that no time frame has been decided for the implementation of the system. He said that policy of persuasion would be followed as university is an autonomous body.

Teachers of Delhi University have already registered strong protest against the implementation of the semester system in the university. Delhi University Students Union too has registered the protest in this regard. Teachers opposing the semester system are saying that the system can not be implemented without proper infrastructure and manpower. Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) has been demanding a debate on desirability and feasibility of semester system. It has also demanding a General Body Meeting of the teachers of all the discipline and to take their views before going ahead for the implementation of the system.

SS Rathi, former DUTA President too says that it is true that the government has favoured the universalization of the system but at the same time it has not made the proposed system mandatory. The way Delhi University Vice-Chancellor is trying to impose system on the colleges is not just undemocratic but will also prove very harmful for the teaching-learning system in the college.

Q: How Many universities come under Federation of Central Universities Teachers’ Association (FEDCUTA), at present?

ANM: At Present, there are 24 central universities come under FEDCUTA including Delhi University, JNU, Jamia, Aligarh, BHU, Vishva-Bharti and others. We are trying to achieve bigger participation. There are over 25,000 teachers associated with the federation through teachers associations.

Q: Is there any plan to include Delhi Technological University (DTU) or Ambedkar University in the Federation?
ANM: No, These are state universities.

Q: How do you see the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations for teachers?

ANM: See, it is a challenge for us to ensure talent in the system and to retain them with it. For the first time we have received parity with IAS in the pay scale not for just 3-4 years, as it used to happen during earlier pay commissions, but upto 14 to 15 years we are ahead of them. This is recognition of teachers in our system.

Q: It means everything is OK with the new pay commission…
ANM: No, there are certain irritants in the recommendations too like in the pay scale and service condition is getting changed. We have serious objections to it. Our basic objection stays with the fact that whenever the pay commission comes why they (UGC and Universtiy adminstration) try to change service condition. UGC is trying to do it in a very undemocratic manner. It is trying to impose those conditions which are impossible to achieve for a teacher and in a way trying to promote sycophancy.
For example some awards have been listed and made benchmarks like Gyanpeet Award, Bhatnagar awards, Padma awards etc. These are very prestigious awards and given to the people for their lifetime achievements. They are trying to ridicule the teachers by asking them to get the awards for promotion. Again, teacher work hard to get the PhD but here the focus is on getting honorary Doctorate award. There is no recognition of genuine PhD but for honorary PhD. Classroom teaching has got no points and activities other than teaching can gather points and get promotion too. Also, colonial mindset is reflecting by the fact that publication of paper in an Indian Journal is given lesser marks in comparison with foreign journals.

Q: You talk about talent and world class infrastructure but why Indian students go abroad for their studies and face Australia like situation i.e. racism, attacks?
ANM: Qualifying percentage for admission of the most of the prime institutions, including Delhi University, has gone up every year. It is despite increase in number of seats in the university. But at the same time you look the scene at the state universities. Many state governments are not giving proper attention to their institutions in terms of infrastructure and pay scale. Some of the state government are appointing teachers at very low pay of rupees 5000 to 6000 per month. In such a situation how can you expect a world class institution and facilities? And, in such a situation capable students go to other countries for studies.

Q: But there is no fund crunch now, at least in central universities. Why are you (teaching community) not able to achieve global standard in terms of teaching and environment?
ANM: With present pay scale and fund inflow we can achieve world standard. Only thing need to take care of that recruitment or selection should be based on more qualitative assessment than quantitative assessment to ensure talent in the system. We have better talent than any other developing country have. India has great potential. There is no need to go to developed countries with begging bowl and request them to open their universities in India. In all sectors including engineering, medical, literature, publishing every where we have proved our potential. We welcome the government’s initiative to set up new IITs and IIMs. This will help to stop drainage of valuable foreign currency and our talent.

Q: As a president of the biggest teacher organization in the country (FEDCUTA) and also president of Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) what would you say about student politics in DU and whatever has happened in the DUSU election and thereafter? Is it a way to throttle the student’s politics in the university?

ANM: See, the Lingdoh Committee has never tried to understand. It has failed to address the issue in proper perspective. Without a broad vision whatever has been recommended was improper. Allowing students to spend only rupees 5000 for election is a joke. This is general statement and undermining the requirement. How can a person communicate to its electorates or how can it be possible in such a small amount of money. Ban on printed materials is again a wrong step. Age bar is ok but the way candidatures of the candidates of different organizations have been scrapped was totally undemocratic.

Q: What would you like to say about not allocating office to elected DUSU representative despite their democratic mandate? What happened to Delhi University Researchers Association (DURA)?

ANM: See, DURA is a defunct body now. Its election has not held for many years probably for last 10 years. As far as DUSU or DURA is concerned I would only like to say that every union or body must try to defend its interest.