DUTA warns of strike on May 7 over zero promotions

Delhi University Teacher's Association (DUTA) has threatened to go on strike over the issue of zero promotions in the University. The Association threatened to hold a dharna at the Arts Faculty on May 7, if the Vice-Chancellor does not accede to their demands.

In a press note, DUTA president Nandita Narain said the Association had raised the issue of zero promotions over a year ago.

The administration's lack of interest over the issue may adversely affect thousands of teachers who were promoted under the 1998-2000 scheme, the note said.

"These issues were highlighted by our elected members of the Academic Council during meetings. The frustration and demoralisation of teachers has now reached breaking point and is likely to affect their functioning adversely," the note read.

DUTA's list of demands include non-inclusion of academic performance indicator retrospectively to any date prior to 17 August 2013, withdrawal of letters denying promotion to teachers whose promotion was due under 1998-2000 scheme on grounds of not counting past service and initiation of promotions process by sending names of experts for Selection Committees.

The Association also slammed the lack of governing bodies in 28 DU-affiliated colleges in a mail addressed to the V-C. DUTA members claimed that the delay in formation of governing bodies has seriously affected governance in several colleges and asked the V-C to convene a meeting of the Executive Council at the earliest to resolve the issue.

"Since the Governing Body of the College is the appointing authority for both the Principal and the teachers, it is essential that regular Governing Bodies for all the colleges are in place to ensure that the appointment process takes place in a smooth, time-bound and fair manner," the mail read.