Delhi University: Ad-Hoc Teachers Protest Outside VC’s Office, Boycott Classes

New Delhi: Tension ran high in the north campus of Delhi University on Wednesday as hundreds of teachers gheraoed the vice chancellor’s office, protesting a recent circular that gives precedence to guest teachers in recruitment process over the ad-hoc teachers.

The circular issued on August 28 mandates only the appointment of guest teachers against the vacant positions.

The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA), which represents 4500 ad hoc teachers, had threatened to boycott class from Wednesday onwards. One of the teachers claimed that some colleges under Delhi University had stopped the salaries of the ad hoc as confusions continued to prevail about their fate following the circular.

There has been no comment from VC Prof Yogesh Tyagi so far.

What did the cirucular say? 

“The colleges are advised to fill up the permanent vacancies at the earliest and till permanent appointments are made, the colleges may appoint guest faculty, if required, against new vacancies arising first time in academic session 2019-20.”

Some reports claimed that the college principals have sought clarity from the Delhi university about the circular.

The teachers are, however, demanding the withdrawal of the circular and one time-time regularisation of the ad-hoc teachers. DUTA has sought the intervention of UGC to resolve the issue.

Talking to Education Bytes, one of the teachers, requesting anonymity said he was hopeful of his appointment this season. “There were hundreds of us who have invested good amount of time in the classroom. This is how the university rewards us,” he rued.

He said that ad hoc teachers were being victimised because they have been vocal about the policies of the Narendra Modi government relating to the higher education sector. “Education today is being commercialised and privatised. This could prove detrimental to those students who come from the economically weaker section,” he said.