As many as 35 teachers and senators of the University of Mumbai have decided to go on a daylong hungerstrike on Tuesday to protest against non-implementation of regularisation of services of teachers who have acquired M.Phil. As per the University Grants Commission rule of 2006, teachers who have acquired M.Phil are eligible to get permenant employment. “As per the rule, even if a person does not take the UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) or the Maharashtra State Eligibility Test for Lectureship (SET) exam, he/she will not be eligible to get permanent employment,” senate member Dr. Madhu Paranjape said. However, these persons are employed on clock hour basis or contract basis.

According to affected teachers and senate members, the services of these teachers should be regularised as per the UGC rule. The Bombay High Court had stayed the rule before it was lifted in December 2008. “Following this, universities across Maharashtra regularised the services of lecturers who hold M.Phil degree. Why is the Mumbai University still not taking steps to do the same?” Paranjpe said.