Press Release, 29.11.2011

A DUTA delegation comprising its office-bearers and the two elected teacher representatives on the DU Executive Council met the Chairman UGC, Prof. Ved Prakash, yesterday at 11:30 in his office. At the meeting, which continued for over one and a half hour, DUTA had a thorough discussion with the Chairman on pending anomalies arising out of the 6th Pay Revision Notification as well as the UGC Regulations 2010. These anomalies, among others, included stepping up of pay where juniors with similar, qualifications and experience draw more salary, minimum starting pay at AGP of Rs. 7000/-, dual emoluments in the rank of Professors, fixation of pay of teachers on leave as on 01.01.2006, counting of teaching experience of self-financing courses, disputed date of eligibility for promotion in Reassessed cases, etc.

The DUTA delegation categorically stated that the concept of accumulating points for career advancement is something that at once runs counter to the very vision of excellence in teaching-learning process, academic accomplishments and productivity propounded by the MHRD/ UGC.

The DUTA took up the long-standing and sensitive issue of parity of librarians with teachers (a perception with which even the MHRD concurs) by suggesting that, among other measures, the parity could be brought about once for all by changing the designation of the Librarians to Asstt. Professor in Library Science and so on exactly in the same way as has been done in the case of teaching faculty.

Furthermore, the DUTA expressed its anguish and dismay over the non-filling of around 4000 vacant teaching positions in the University of Delhi while the teaching-learning process suffers, and the unwarranted harassment of teachers, for no fault of theirs on the question of CPF/ GPF conversion.

The UGC Chairman made it clear that there is no bar on recruitment and the UGC is all for filling-up teaching positions expeditiously. The Chairman was very concerned about the issue of CPF/ GPF, and he asked the DUTA to hand him an exclusive representation in this regard which he promised to personally take up with the Secretary, MHRD and make all efforts to solve the matter once for all.

One the issue of points–accumulation for promotion, the Chairman agreed that the matter has generated a lot of heat and the UGC is considering appropriate ways and means to sort out the matter that exercises the teaching community at large. The Chairman was also of the opinion that all approved self-financing courses being run by the University and its Colleges be funded by the Govt./ UGC.

Overall, the meeting appeared to be positive as the Chairman stated that out of 83 issues, raised from time to time, 67 have been favourably addressed by the anomalies Committee of the UGC and the same await clearance by a full meeting of the UGC which, he assured, would be held in Dec 2011 itself.

S.D. Siddiqui, Secretary                                                      Amar Deo Sharma, President