DUTA protest to highlight different issues evokes no response from VC

Updated on: Thursday, November 08, 2012

Delhi University Teachers' Association has alleged that not only did vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh overlook the 50-odd letters it wrote to him, he also did not give an audience to the teachers' representatives ever since he took charge in October 2010. What's more, even the ongoing indefinite relay hunger strike, along with a series of protests, has failed to elicit a response from him.

At a time when the university is witnessing radical reforms, his complete disconnect with the teachers has forced them to take the drastic steps. Even as the hunger strike enters its 29th day and the teachers plan the next phase of the protest, the DU administration is yet to reach out to them. The protest, which started on October 10, has had a large number of students and non-teaching staff in attendance despite the approaching semester exams.

Along with the hunger strike, the teachers have been organizing demonstrations on the sidelines to highlight different issues. "The teachers are not against reforms per se, but the fact that the VC has refused to meet their representatives for so long. What's disturbing is that he has time and again announced radical changes in the system through the media. The teachers want to have a dialogue with him to stave off a disaster in the name of reforms," said DUTA executive Abha D Habib.

The teachers' representatives further alleged that Singh has bypassed all statutory bodies while introducing reforms or tweaking rules. They also accuse the administration of misrepresenting the facts. The executive council's "unanimous" go-ahead to the VC for deciding on the issue of biometric attendance system is a case in point.

Rajib Ray, teachers' representative in the EC, said, "I had dissented as I am of the view that the EC had no right to ignore its earlier and standing decision to decide on and act through a committee with reference to DUTA's 2000 document on 'Academic Reforms and Curbing Absenteeism'. This dissent has been put on record and I have not withdrawn it at any point. I have also written a letter to the VC protesting against this deliberate misrepresentation of the EC decision by the university. Also, the EC had no right to abdicate its responsibility and authorize an individual to decide on its behalf."

Despite attempts to speak to Singh, he could not be reached. A member of the 61-member taskforce entrusted with preparing the blueprint of the four-year degree, said on condition of anonymity: "The first step should have been to seek an in-principle approval from the academic council, which the university didn't. Also, the hasty implementation is likely to invite criticism. The new session is just six months away and we don't even have a rough plan with us. Moreover, the teachers' representative should have been taken into confidence."

DUTA protest to highlight different issues evokes no response from VC

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