DUTA PRESS RELEASE, 19.1.2017

JOINT DHARNA ON 19.1.2017 BY TEACHERS AND NON-TEACHING EMPLOYEES OF DELHI UNIVERSITY TO DEMAND IMPLEMENTATION OF HIGH COURT ORDER ON PENSION

Hundreds of teachers and non-teaching employees of Delhi University held a joint dharna today at the Arts Faculty Gate at the call of the DUTA, DUCKU, DUCLSA, ST/ST Employees Welfare Association and Samajik Nyaya Morcha to protest against the delay in implementation of the High Court judgment of 24th August, 2016, that granted pension to all categories of employees who were affected by the CPF-GPF issue.

Speakers that included the Office Bearers of the above organisations, petitioners in the Court case, members of the DUTA Pension Committee and Dr I M Kapahy, Member UGC, highlighted the plight of the most vulnerable section of the University community, our retired teachers and non-teaching employees, who have been subjected to great financial hardship by being illegally denied pension for the last several years. After a protracted legal battle, they won their case in the Delhi High Court in April 2014, but then University administration under Prof Dinesh Singh, vindictively filed an appeal(LPA) against its own employees thereby holding up the implementation of relief. It also stopped releasing pension to thousands of other employees who had earlier been placed in the pension scheme by the University itself through options exercised more than fifteen years ago, and were hence not part of the court dispute. 

On 24.8.2016, the Hon'ble Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, gave a landmark verdict granting pension to all categories of employees whose cases were before it, dismissing the vindictive appeal of the University and noting that its submissions "have no force" and its appeal "deserves to fail"!

Five months later, despite continuous reminders by the DUTA and a contempt petition also being filed, the University administration under the new VC Prof Yogesh Tyagi and the UGC/MHRD have taken no steps to implement the the High Court judgment. This is the worst example of the utter callousness of the University administration towards its own retired employees whom it has pushed into penury and destitution by its acts of commission and omission. It also shows the utter contempt that the UGC/MHRD/Central Govt has for the Rule of Law. It was reported that a contempt petition has been admitted and notice served to MHRD and UGC.

The gathering resolved to intensify the agitation with a rally at Jantar Mantar in February during the Parliament Session, and a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister was signed by all present.

The dharna culminated in a rally to the Vice Chancellor's Office, where a copy of a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister was submitted. 

                                                  

NANDITA NARAIN President, DUTA

SANDEEP Secretary, DUTA

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