The University of Mumbai on Tuesday regularised the services of 32 teachers who hold M.Phil degrees. They were working on a contract or clock hour basis. Following a day long hunger strike by teachers and senators of the varsity demanding the regularisation of services, the Vice-Chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy said most of these teachers would be made permanent employees. More than 50 teachers of the Bombay University and College Teachers’ Union (BUCTU) were on a hunger strike at the Fort Campus of the varsity on Tuesday.

“Despite being qualified, these teachers were being given consolidated salary between Rs 5000- Rs 8000. Many of their jobs have been even terminated by their respective colleges,” said senate member Madhu Paranjpe.

As per the UGC rule of 2006, teachers who hold M.Phil are eligible to get permanent employment. Before the rule came into effect, a person had to clear the UGC National Eligibility Test or the Maharashtra State Eligibility Test to get permanent employment as a lecturer.

“The vice-chancellor assured us that after obtaining some relevant documents the cases would be resolved in 21 days,” said CL Sadashiv, president of BUCTU.