DUTA protest against UGC circular finds political support

New Delhi: The protest by Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) against UGC's March 5 notification intensified on Monday, after several political organisations pitched their support for the Association and bashed the notification which "was not in the spirit of democracy."

The circular issued by University Grants Commission (UGC) asks universities and colleges to redraw their reservation rosters for SC/ST category, while keeping department/subject as a unit, thereby denying the constitutional requirement of 49.5 per cent reservation to the SC/ST/OBC combined.

Sitaram Yechury, general secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist) said, "We are not looking to politicise the issue, but it is violation of a constitutional right. Dalits, SCs, STs and OBCs are being denied equal opportunities."

He further said that CPI(M) will raise the issue during the Monsoon session of Parliament, if it is not resolved till then.

"It is not only about Delhi University. The circular affects colleges and universities nationwide. An ordinance should be brought in by the union government so that the upcoming academic session is not affected," said Atishi Marlena of Aam Aadmi Party. She further said that DUTA's struggle was a political fight against the government as well.

Before the circular was issued, UGC had prohibited the practice of making department-wise cadres, as that would have led to denial of reservation in smaller departments. However, the Commission's recent U-turn has invited the wrath of DUTA.

Meanwhile, members of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad protested against DUTA's boycott of the exam paper evaluation, saying that the future of students was being compromised.