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DUTA Calls for College-Level Dharna on October 15

By DU Beat October 15, 2026

Delhi University Teachers’ Association has called for a college-level dharna on October 15, pressing for dignity, fairness and better working conditions.

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has called for a college-level dharna on October 15, 2026, asking teachers and college staff associations to come together over issues ranging from insecure employment to delays in promotions and faculty recruitment. The dharna, named “DUTA Ekjutta Dharna”, will take place across Delhi University colleges, with classes scheduled to remain suspended during the protest hours.

As per the notice issued by DUTA, day colleges will hold the dharna from 11 am to 2 pm, while protests at evening colleges are scheduled for 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Classes will remain suspended from 11 am in day colleges and 3:30 pm in evening colleges.

A major demand is the regularisation of long-serving ad hoc and temporary teachers in 12 Delhi government-funded colleges. The issue has been a recurring point of contention, with DUTA previously organising protests over delays in regularising teachers who have worked on temporary appointments for years. In its May 2026 announcement, the association called for regularisation in these colleges, highlighting the need to address prolonged employment uncertainty.

The demand has also received wider attention. A Careers360 report published by Press Trust of India in August 2026 reported that DUTA had warned of intensifying its agitation if the issue remained unresolved. The association has also called for the full counting of past service towards promotions, seeking recognition of the years teachers have already spent working in their institutions.

Other demands include the restoration of MPhil and PhD increments, filling vacant teaching positions and addressing recruitment backlogs. DUTA has also raised the issue of reservation in appointments to the post of principal in Delhi University colleges.

DUTA has also raised concerns over the criteria used to assess candidates for faculty appointments and promotions, particularly the role of peer-reviewed journals in the screening process. It has further demanded access to WUS Health Centre facilities for both teaching and non-teaching staff working in colleges.

With the October 15 dharna, teachers will take these concerns to their respective campuses, bringing attention to issues that have remained unresolved for years. From securing permanent positions to ensuring fair promotions and better staff facilities, the protest reflects DUTA’s push for changes in the working conditions of university employees.

Image Source: DU India

Manzil Chaudhary

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DUB News

DUTA Takes Demands to LG, Classes Suspended Across 12 DU Colleges

By DU Beat September 22, 2026

DUTA will hold a Justice March on September 23 over teaching vacancies and the regularisation of long-serving ad-hoc faculty across 12 Delhi government-funded DU colleges.

Classes across 12 Delhi University colleges are expected to be suspended after 10 am on Wednesday, September 23, as the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) will hold a Justice March over the approval of teaching positions and the regularisation of long-serving temporary and ad-hoc faculty.

The march will begin at 10.30 am from Gate No. 1 of the University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Office and proceed towards the Lieutenant Governor’s House. DUTA plans to submit a petition to the Lieutenant Governor, taking its demands beyond the University campus and directly to the Delhi administration.

The association is demanding approval for teaching positions in the 12 Delhi government-funded colleges, along with the immediate initiation of the regularisation and absorption process for teachers who have served on temporary or ad hoc appointments for several years. According to DUTA, the vacancies and continued reliance on temporary appointments have remained a concern for the functioning of these colleges and their teaching staff. In May this year, DUTA raised similar concerns over delays in filling teaching and non-teaching positions across the 12 colleges.

The regularisation of ad hoc faculty has also previously been before the Delhi High Court. In July 2025, the Court ruled in favour of two ad-hoc Assistant Professors seeking regularisation, citing their prolonged service and the circumstances surrounding their appointments. The ruling forms part of the broader legal context around the employment status of teachers who have served for extended periods on temporary appointments.

With DUTA taking its demands to the LG House, Wednesday’s Justice March is set to bring renewed attention to the availability of teaching positions in the 12 colleges and the continued presence of temporary and ad-hoc faculty.

Ahana Dey

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Image Source: India Today.com

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Around the Campus

DU Teacher Injured Amidst The DUSU Campaigning Clash

By DU Beat September 17, 2026

Clashes erupted across DU’s North Campus during the final day of DUSU campaigning; a teacher from Motilal Nehru College was allegedly assaulted.

On 16th September, the final day of campaigning for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, physical clashes were reported at several locations. A brawl broke out between two election-party member groups at the North Campus around 5 p.m. A student campaigner allegedly assaulted a teacher at Motilal Nehru College (Evening).

Faculty members at Motilal Nehru College said campaigners clashed with teachers while attempting to enter the premises and that several teachers were injured. More clashes were reported at Sri Aurobindo College, while altercations were reported at other colleges as well.

Faculty members at the college staged a protest following the incident and demanded action against the student. The demands remain intact as both the faculty and administration demand judicial punishment and justice for the heinous act. Faculty members also said they were considering filing a police complaint and boycotting election-related duties, according to the PTI.

A teacher said that the faculty member who was allegedly assaulted was seriously injured and was receiving medical attention.

A DUSU campaigner beat a faculty member. He is grievously injured and is receiving medical attention”,

the teacher told PTI.

Due to the physical altercations, several students and campaigners were mobilised in a single area near the arts faculty. The state police and security guards also got involved to resolve the confrontation. Unfortunately, faculty members could not immediately establish which student organisation the alleged campaigner represented.

Sources told Times Now that the altercation intensified as rival groups barged through the main gate. Teachers who intervened were allegedly hit repeatedly by campaigners.

Denouncing the incident, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) termed it a “grave” infringement of teachers’ safety and dignity, and sought disciplinary and legal recourse against those responsible.

No election-related activity should be permitted to compromise the safety, dignity or academic functioning of the college community”,

DUTA said.

The police and the administration are yet to resolve the matter, with further action against those responsible for the violent brawl much awaited.

Image Source: The Hindustan Times

Rajarshi Ghosh

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DUB News

DUTA Warns Of Strike Over Non-Regularisation Of Ad Hoc Faculty In Twelve DU Colleges

By DU Beat August 9, 2026

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has warned of a strike over the regularisation of ad hoc faculty in twelve Delhi University colleges fully funded by the Delhi government, announcing an “Action Programme” if the long-pending demand is not addressed.

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has announced an “Action Programme” seeking the immediate regularisation of ad hoc and temporary faculty working in twelve Delhi University colleges fully funded by the Delhi government, warning of strikes and a mass movement if the issue is not resolved soon. The decision was taken at a meeting of the DUTA Executive Committee on 6 August, where the association finalised its strategy on the long-pending demand for absorption of teachers who have served in these colleges for years.

DUTA said teachers in these institutions have been made to work under what it described as “an atmosphere of uncertainty”, alleging that delays on the Delhi government’s part have left their professional futures unresolved.

After repeated appeals to the Delhi chief minister and education minister went unanswered, DUTA said it would now approach the Lieutenant Governor with its demand. The association said a decision on further action, including possible strikes, would be taken at its upcoming General Body Meeting if the matter remained unresolved and called it unfortunate that teachers who have served for over a decade in these colleges continue to face uncertainty over their employment status.

This is not the first such warning from DUTA on the issue. In May 2026, teachers affiliated with the Academic for Action and Development Delhi Teachers’ Association staged a protest at DU’s North Campus over the same demand, calling for implementation of the Delhi High Court’s 2025 verdict in the Namita Khare case, which favours permanent status for long-serving ad-hoc teachers.

DUTA said it has informed both the Delhi government and the university administration of its action programme and has appealed to the wider teaching community to participate if the agitation proceeds. The DUTA ad hoc faculty strike warning comes amid continued uncertainty over the employment status of teachers who have served in these colleges for years. Neither the Delhi government nor the Delhi University administration has issued an official response at the time of publication.

Image Credits: Education Times

Vidhi Ramchandani

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DUB News

AADTA-led Teachers across DU Stage Protest for Regularisation of Ad Hoc Faculty

By DU Beat May 17, 2026

AADTA-led teachers protested at Delhi University against delays in regularisation and promotions of ad hoc faculty in 12 colleges, demanding recruitment approvals and implementation of the High Court’s 2025 judgement.

On Friday May 15, members associated with the Academic for Action and Development Delhi Teachers’ Association (AADTA) staged a protest calling out the lack of regularisation and promotion to permanent positions of the ad hoc teachers working in 12 colleges across Delhi University. The association called for immediate action and for the immediate approval of ex post facto sanctions for posts, enabling colleges to commence recruitment processes without delay.

The protest saw wide support from the teaching staff across the university. Academic Council members, Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) executive members and office-bearers of several college staff associations participated in the protest, the organisation shared in a statement. Additionally, presidents of staff associations from Bhagini Nivedita College, College of Vocational Studies, and Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College also expressed solidarity with the demands during the protest.

Former Executive Council member and AADTA member Rajesh Jha said,

“DU has done away with the ad hoc system in other colleges, which naturally leads to a feeling of insecurity among these teachers as they have no idea where they stand.” Mr Jha said the issue emerged due to the limited number of sanctioned posts created in 2010-2011.

“A total of 301 posts were sanctioned in these 12 colleges, but those were not enough. Currently, there are around 1,000 teachers, including permanent and ad hoc faculty, working in these colleges,” he said.

The association’s demand is with relation to the Delhi High Court’s judgement of the Namita Khare case in which a teacher from the Department of Germanic and Romance Studies demanded regularisation after her prolonged ad hoc status. She had been an ad hoc teacher for 8 years, yet her pay grade and teaching position remained unchanged. The court ruled that long-serving ad-hoc teachers should be made permanent and regularised, underlining that the ruling should be enforced “in letter and spirit”.

In conversation with DU Beat, Bimlendu Tirthunker, the secretary of DUTA and a member of AADTA, said,

“The teachers that we are raising this issue for have been teaching for more than 18-20 years; the lack of regularisation really affects their lives in terms of low pay scale and other benefits. They are not in a position to switch jobs. It is a duty on a human level to give them a permanent position.”

He further added,

‘The DUTA delegation had previously met Rekha Gupta with this grievance, and she gave us reassurance, but it still isn’t getting implemented.’ Our simple demand is for the administration to follow directions given by the Delhi High Court in the Namita Khare case with immediate effect.’

Read Also: The Age of Automated Academia
Image Credits-Facebook Page of AADTA

Divyanshi Dusad
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DUB News

DUTA Backs FUTAB Against Bihar Governor’s ‘5-Hours a Day’ Directive

By DU Beat May 10, 2026

Bihar Governor’s directive mandating “five hours of daily teaching” for university faculty has triggered sharp backlash, with FUTAB and DUTA contesting the interpretation of UGC norms.

The Bihar Governor’s recent directive mandating ‘five hours of daily teaching” for all University faculty in the state has sparked protests. The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations of Bihar (FUTAB) has launched a formal protest against the directive, claiming it to be in violation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) 2018 norms. The 2018 regulations set forth a national standard for appointment and workload of teachers.

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has also joined the pushback, penning a letter to the Governor-cum-Chancellor Syed Ata Hasnain to withdraw the controversial order.

The directive was sent to all vice chancellors of universities/colleges in the state on 7th April 2026, via Kalpana Srivastava, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD-Judicial). The notice mandates all faculty members in employment of the universities to “attend classes for a minimum of 5 hours per day….not less than 40 hours of workload in a week.” The notice further states the UGC Workload norms to be the basis of the directive.

Document excerpt showing UGC workload norms for teachers, including the clause on five-hour daily availability and weekly teaching hours for assistant professors and professors. — Excerpt from UGC workload guidelines stating that teachers should be available in colleges or universities for at least five hours daily during the academic year.

The main point of contention was the interpretation of the ‘five hour rule’. The teachers’ body contested that the norms define the five-hour rule as “stay-in hours” and not “direct teaching hours”. FUTAB president Kanhaiya Bahadur and general secretary Sanjay Kumar contested the directive in a letter to the Governor’s Secretariat, dated 13th April. They argued that the norms merely require the physical presence of faculty in college for five hours per day, and not direct teaching.

The UGC regulations set down a workload of 40 hours per week across a minimum of 30 working weeks per year. Teachers must be available for at least five hours daily at the university/college. Teachers are also asked to dedicate two hours a day to mentoring students. The guidelines also describe explicitly the limit for the number of direct teaching and learning hours allowed for faculty. No more than 14 hours a week is allowed for Professors and Associate Professors, and 16 hours for Assistant Professors.

The letter from FUTAB noted that this distinction between “stay hours” and “teaching hours” was previously clarified by the Ministry in the Rajya Sabha and through official press releases in 2016, as reported by The Indian Express. “A teacher stays for five hours, but teaches for the specific hours allotted by rank,” the letter stated.

The teachers’ body has threatened intensified protests if the order is not withdrawn soon. In a statement with The Indian Express, president Kanhaiya Bahadur shared “We have written to the UGC to provide a fresh clarification. If Raj Bhavan does not withdraw the letter within a month, we will escalate our agitation.”

A spokesperson for the Bihar Governor’s Secretariat announced that the matter is under review. “The Governor is looking into the issue. We will examine the legal and practical aspects of the letter issued by the OSD (Judicial),” the official said.

Image Source: Governor of Bihar (Official Website)

Anjali Paruvu

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Campus Central

Teachers’ Bodies Demand Action After Alleged Assault on DU Professor by DUSU Joint Secretary

By DU Beat October 26, 2025

DUSU Joint Secretary Deepika Jha allegedly slapped Professor Sujit Kumar at Dr. B.R.Ambedkar College, prompting outrage from teachers’ associations, police investigation, and a DU-appointed six-member committee to probe the assault.

On 16th October, Deepika Jha, the Joint Secretary of DUSU (Delhi University Students’ Union) of the current term, was seen slapping Professor Sujit Kumar, a senior teacher of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College of Delhi University. The incident occurred at the principal’s office in the presence of the police.

Professor V.S. Negi, the President of DUTA, in his letter requesting a General Body Meeting after the autumn vacation, stated that,

This incident has rattled the entire university and is an assault on the dignity of teachers and other stakeholders of the teaching-learning process in Delhi University. Teachers from across the country too have expressed their shock and indignation.

The letter further stated that DUTA’s effort to call for a flash protest on the 17th is simply not enough, in addition to the lack of a public addressing system.

Several organisations, including the Common Teachers’ Front, Democratic Teachers’ Front, Democratic Teachers’ Initiative, INTEC (I), Rashtriya Shiksha Morcha, and Samajwadi Shikshak Manch, have come together to demand a DUTA GBM on the 16th October physical assault on teachers.

The letter further stated,

It is shocking that the perpetrators of this act of violence are acting with total impunity. Encouraged by the fact that no action has been taken against them, they are making public statements maligning the teachers and creating a false narrative of the incident. Meanwhile, the affected teachers wait for justice.

The letter saw signatories from various organisations, including the Common Teachers’ Forum (CTF), Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), Delhi Teachers’ Initiative (DTI), Rashtriya Shiksha Morcha (RSM), and Samajwadi Shikshak Manch (SSM).

A senior police officer confirmed that a complaint has been received and the matter is under investigation.

We received the complaint late in the evening. The video has been seen by investigators. They are obtaining CCTV footage now. The matter is being enquired into.

The University of Delhi has formed a six-member inquiry committee to investigate the alleged assault. The committee will be chaired by Professor Neeta Sehgal of the Department of Zoology. Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh said the panel has been directed to submit its report within two weeks. Other members of the committee include Professor Jyoti Trehan Sharma, Joint Proctor (Member Secretary); Professor Rama, Principal of Hansraj College; Professor Swati Diwakar from Environmental Studies; Professor Darvinder Kumar, Principal of PGDAV College; and Awadhesh Kumar, Joint Proctor

Image Credits- The Indian Express

Also Read – Crisis Erupts at SAU: Students Protest After Alleged Gang Rape

Divyanshi Dusad
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Campus Central

DUTA Demands Action After Professor is Slapped by DUSU’s Joint Secretary

By DU Beat October 17, 2025

Delhi University witnessed an assault on one of their Commerce Professors, after he was allegedly slapped by DUSU’s Joint Secretary while being on duty.

A professor of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Mr. Sujit Kumar was allegedly slapped and assaulted by Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) Joint Secretary Deepika Jha and other members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), in the presence of police personnel on Thursday, 16th October. Sujit Kumar serves as the convener of the college’s disciplinary committee and is a senior teacher at Delhi University’s B.R. Ambedkar University.

The incident sparked immediate outrage in The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), who claimed that around 50 students entered the college, alongside Aryan Maan, the DUSU President and Deepika Jha, the Joint Secretary, and ‘mistreated teachers, demanding the resignation of the disciplinary committee convener.’

The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) issued a statement asserting that the committee was investigating recent incidents of campus violence involving students from different groups when the assault took place. The Delhi University Teacher’s Association in turn has written to the Vice- Chancellor demanding swift action and has urged the university administration to conduct thorough research and to take further measures.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from the university’s teaching community.

Even though Deepika Jha alleged that Prof. Kumar misbehaved with her, she apologised to the entire teaching community. The professor, however, rejected the allegations. Deepika Jha asserted that she was called to the college to address complaints of `misbehaviour and physical assault’ raised by the students against Prof. Kumar. She further accused the professor of being in an inebriated state and of making indecent remarks, constantly threatening her and of making her feel unsafe.

Aryan Maan, on his Instagram, implicated that the party showed up after a student was seen to be dragged by the collar by the professor in addition to him smoking within the college premises.

The Joint Secretary admitted to slapping the teacher but asserted it to be an impulsive reaction to his alleged `staring’, `verbal abuse’ and `provocation’. She expressed regrets over her actions but claimed them to be a concern for female safety on campus.

A DU professor, on the condition of anonymity, had given a statement: “A student from the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) had won the president post in the college student council, and two other posts had been won by the ABVP. The NSUI student had allegedly been assaulted by ABVP members, and he had lodged a complaint against them.”

Prof. Kumar stated that he was forced to resign from his position, and the event took place after.

In an a statement, the incident was labelled as `ABVP-led DUSU hooliganism’ by the NSUI, who condemned the lack of action by the authorities despite CCTV evidence.

Anonymous

Featured Image source: Screengrab from CCTV footage

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Features

Major DU PG Syllabus Cuts on Religion, LGBTQ+ and Pakistan Spark Faculty Divide

By DU Beat June 26, 2025

Delhi University’s PG syllabus cuts on religion, caste, LGBTQ+ issues, and Pakistan spark faculty backlash, raising concerns over academic freedom and ideological interference.

On 25 June 2025, the Standing Committee of the University of Delhi (DU) proposed several contentious changes to the postgraduate syllabi of Geography, Sociology, and Political Science. The revisions include the removal or significant reworking of content related to religion, caste, LGBTQ+ issues, and the study of Pakistan. The changes have triggered widespread criticism from faculty members, with further discussion scheduled in the upcoming meeting on 1 July.

In the Department of Geography, three major papers were affected. In the elective paper Territorial Bases of Politics in India, the committee objected to Unit 3, titled “Internal Conflicts and Problems of Nation Building,” which addressed religious conflicts. A key reading, The Production of Hindu Muslim Violence in Contemporary India, was removed. In Social Geography, Unit 4 on “Distribution of SC Population” was eliminated. According to committee members, this decision was made to de-emphasise caste-related material. Additionally, Vulnerability and Disaster, another elective, was completely removed from the syllabus.

The Sociology syllabus also saw significant intervention. In Introduction to Sociological Theory, the committee questioned the absence of Indian thinkers and suggested their inclusion. Objections were raised regarding the inclusion of the reading Weston, K. (1997). Families We Choose: Lesbians, Gays, Kinship, as same-sex marriage is not legally recognised in India. In Sociology of Religion, Unit IV on Religious Authority and Organizations was flagged for using academic terms such as “church,” “sect,” and “cult.” Members questioned why terms like “rishi-muni” were excluded. Despite faculty clarification that these were standard sociological terms, the committee still recommended revision.

Urban Sociology also faced changes. The committee argued that Unit 2 focused excessively on violence. Key readings addressing religion and caste were removed, including The Muharram Procession of Mumbai, Animating Caste: Visceral Geographies of Pigs, Caste and Violent Nationalisms in Chennai City, and Deceptive Majority: Dalits, Hinduism, and Underground Religion.

Some faculty members have raised concerns about the committee’s role in mandating syllabus revisions.

The Standing Committee’s direction to the Departments of Geography and Sociology to change their syllabi defies academic rationale and is an act of overreach. While the Standing Committee can share inputs and feedback with the departments, it cannot direct the departments to remove papers and readings without giving academic justification.”

said Rudrashish Chakraborty, Associate Professor at Kirori Mal College and elected member of the DUTA Executive (2023–25).

The Political Science syllabus came under the most scrutiny. Faculty members were directed to ensure the content remained “India-centric” and avoided material that “glorifies Pakistan.” This instruction aligns with Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh’s earlier stance amid recent geopolitical tensions.

Dr. Monami Sinha opposed the changes, stating,

“It is imperative to study Pakistan in detail because, pedagogically, we need to train our students and foster scholarship on Pakistan, as it remains one of India’s constant foreign policy challenges.”

Four electives relating to China, Pakistan, and Islam in international relations were removed. These included Pakistan and the World, China’s Role in the Contemporary World, Islam and International Relations, and Pakistan: State and Society. In Religious Nationalism and Political Violence, the topic “Sangha politics, civil warfare and the peace process” was removed, along with the reading by Blom Hansen on Hindu nationalism and violence.

Image Credit: Times of India

Yashika Jain

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DUB News

DUTA Demands Release of Salaries and other Dues

By DU Beat February 17, 2024

In a clarion call of distress and solidarity, DUTA on Friday gathered professors against the governmental lapses that they allege have been affecting the livelihood of many.

On the 16th of February, professors from all over Delhi University gathered at the Delhi Vidhan Sabha to protest against the administrative inconsistencies plaguing various colleges. Alongside a call to suspend classes, the Dharna was organised by the Delhi University Teachers’ Association. Their official demands include the release of salaries and other dues as well as the withdrawal of Delhi Higher Education Minister Atishi’s letters to the central government.

Atishi had earlier in December written to the Union Education Minister, pointing out the discrepancies in 12 colleges that are funded by the Delhi Government. The aforementioned colleges have been operating since the 1990s; reportedly, however, the issues at play today started emerging as a result of the advent of two different governments at the central and state levels around 5 years ago.

In a conversation with DuBeat, Dr. Abha Dev Habib underlines the structural origin and nature of the problem of the withholding of grants in a centre-state conflict. She alleges that this has been leading to interference in the traditional procedural approach of the governing bodies of these colleges, which was earlier adopted to reduce bureaucratic red-tapism.

“To punish salaried individuals for institutional lapses and to starve close to 2000 people is criminal,” she says. Of note, in addition, is the Vice-Chancellor’s response to the Minister’s letters, which makes no mention of addressing the state of the employees.

Earlier in 2022, DUTA President Professor Bhagi reported to ANI that the problem had persisted for quite some time and pointed to the existence of a deficit of 85 to 90 crores in the 12 colleges funded by the Delhi government. While ANI had already identified the potential of this snowballing into a confrontation between the AAP in the state and the BJP at the centre, Dr. Habib maintains that the brunt of such conflict cannot be taken out on employees.

The solution endorsed involves the University Grants Commission (UGC) completely taking over the 12 colleges.

Featured Image Credits : PTI

Deevya Deo

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