The Delhi University has invoked a ‘no work, no pay’ rule to counter a one-day strike on Tuesday by teachers against the recent sacking of two Hindu College lecturers.
The two teachers were terminated a year after they came to blows in the college staff room. But DUTA claims that the probe by the Hindu College governing body was biased.
“Five members of the governing body, including two teachers’ representatives of the college and both university representatives, had dissented against the decision to terminate their services. The Vice Chancellor is on record having previously asked the GB to reconsider the termination on the grounds that it seemed disproportionate to the alleged offense,” DUTA president Nandita Narain said.
She alleged that the two teachers were denied a copy of the enquiry report due to which they failed to put up their defence.
DU, however, said that it is bound by the University Grants Commission’s directive to take action on “no work no pay” and the Code of the Professional Ethics applicable to teachers.
Unfazed by the university’s order, the teachers’ body has decided to go ahead with their protest.
“The invocation of the Code of Conduct demonstrates how the VC intends to use it against any democratic action by the teachers’ collective. DUTA has reached out to the DUSU (DU Students’ Union) and DUCKU (DU College Karamchari Union) and asked both unions to support the strike,” Narain said.
DU Registrar Tarun Kumar Das in his letter to Narain has said the teachers’ strike will violate the law. “The university is bound by the process of law and can only act to uphold it. The call of strike given by you is harmful to the well-being of students. The university administration requests you to exercise restraint and wisdom to respect the process of law and call off the strike,” Das’ letter said.
The university said the call for the strike is illegal in view of the standing orders of the Delhi High Court dated November 15, 2010.
But DUTA claims the High Court’s interim order was passed in the specific context of the anti-semester agitations and has no bearing on their strike.