NEW DELHI, January 15: The Delhi University remained closed today, for the third time this week, with hundreds of teachers participating in a protest march outside the Prime Minister's residence. They later courted arrest at the Tughlak Road police station.A delegation led by the Delhi University Teacher's Association (DUTA) and the FEDUCTA office-bearers also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister.
Professors and principals of various colleges participated in the march, which started from the Safdarjung tomb. The march was a part of a series of agitations organised by DUTA to protest against the delay in the implementation of the UGC-recommended pay scales. DUTA had warned the ministry last month that they would to on strike today if their demands were not met with.
One of their major complaints has been a lack of information from the ministry regarding the status of the UGC recommendations. "There has been no formal communication from the HRD ministry regarding the pay scales and service
conditions recommended by the UGC. Neither have they given any indication of when the issue will be decided," says Shri Ram Oberoi, president of DUTA.
Earlier, DUTA had clarified that they will not accept the recommendations of the Rastogi Committee and had demanded an upgrading of scales. The UGC appears to have recommended the hike, though no such indication has been given officially.
This delay on part of the ministry has already cost Delhi University a fair number of working days. With DUTA and the students' unions calling for bandhs frequently, the number of classes being held are fast dwindling. In addition to these calls there are the regular holidays.
The two months before the final examinations are held in the university is the time when much of the syllabus is covered in the colleges. It is only after the college festivals come to an end in December that students hit their books in earnest.
This time however, the classes are few and far in between. The teachers are unhappy and have
threatened to continue their agitation if the issue is not settled. Till they get some good news, the university is unlikely to get on with education.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
