Rocky Road Ahead for New VC
It’s been a difficult 10 days for new VC Dinesh Singh. His instructions to strictly enforce
the “No work, No pay” condition for teachers who were for on strike has been strongly
criticized by the DUTA. The letter sent out by the University office mentioned that if
teachers who failed to submit an undertaking stating that they would teach in the semester
mode would have their salaries withheld. “It is clarified that if the undertaking in terms
of the circular dated October 27 was not submitted by any teacher, his/her salary for
subsequent months shall not be released,” the letter signed by the registrar mentioned.
It also stated that the salary of September was not supposed to be released either if the
undertaking was not submitted. At least 14 colleges have reportedly held back October
salaries for the striking teachers. A press note issued by DUTA said “It is now apparent
that despite solemn assurances by Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, the new Vice-
Chancellor is seeking to continue the style of administration of Prof Deepak Pental.”
Even though certain colleges like Maharaja Agrasen have released pay after making
a deduction for the 25-29 October period (during which teachers were on strike), the
situation took a turn for the worse when teachers allegedly manhandled the college
Principal and blocked the exit gate in protest of the cut. Following the incident, the
college administration filed a police complaint even as the teachers maintain that it
was the Principal who misbehaved and that the police lathicharged. In Yamuna Vihar’s
Ambedkar College, 200 police personnel had to be deployed to manage over 100
protesting teachers.
The impasse over the implementation of the semester also seems to continue, despite the
VC meeting with DUTA representatives on the 4th of November. That meeting apparently
came to naught, with all issues being discussed, but none resolved. “This was a good
gesture from the Vice Chancellor, and we found him receptive and more civil. He said
he needed some time to deliberate upon the issues we raised. We were never against the
semester system per se but we have problems with its suitability and desirability in the
current situation,” was what DUTA secretary Jaffri Abbas had to say. The “No work No
Pay” letter was also discussed. “We told him that the letter showed that the administration
was going on the footsteps of the last administration” said Abbas.
Prateek Arora
It’s been a difficult 10 days for new VC Dinesh Singh. His instructions to strictly enforce
the “No work, No pay” condition for teachers who were for on strike has been strongly
criticized by the DUTA. The letter sent out by the University office mentioned that if
teachers who failed to submit an undertaking stating that they would teach in the semester
mode would have their salaries withheld. “It is clarified that if the undertaking in terms
of the circular dated October 27 was not submitted by any teacher, his/her salary for
subsequent months shall not be released,” the letter signed by the registrar mentioned.
It also stated that the salary of September was not supposed to be released either if the
undertaking was not submitted. At least 14 colleges have reportedly held back October
salaries for the striking teachers. A press note issued by DUTA said “It is now apparent
that despite solemn assurances by Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, the new Vice-
Chancellor is seeking to continue the style of administration of Prof Deepak Pental.”
Even though certain colleges like Maharaja Agrasen have released pay after making
a deduction for the 25-29 October period (during which teachers were on strike), the
situation took a turn for the worse when teachers allegedly manhandled the college
Principal and blocked the exit gate in protest of the cut. Following the incident, the
college administration filed a police complaint even as the teachers maintain that it
was the Principal who misbehaved and that the police lathicharged. In Yamuna Vihar’s
Ambedkar College, 200 police personnel had to be deployed to manage over 100
protesting teachers.
The impasse over the implementation of the semester also seems to continue, despite the
VC meeting with DUTA representatives on the 4th of November. That meeting apparently
came to naught, with all issues being discussed, but none resolved. “This was a good
gesture from the Vice Chancellor, and we found him receptive and more civil. He said
he needed some time to deliberate upon the issues we raised. We were never against the
semester system per se but we have problems with its suitability and desirability in the
current situation,” was what DUTA secretary Jaffri Abbas had to say. The “No work No
Pay” letter was also discussed. “We told him that the letter showed that the administration
was going on the footsteps of the last administration” said Abbas.
Prateek Arora
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