New Delhi: The UGC regulations on minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges may be amended, the HRD ministry said on Thursday after its officials held a meeting with office-bearers of Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) over the issue of absorption of ad-hoc teachers.
The HRD ministry held a meeting with the university's vice-chancellor, University Grants Commission's (UGC) chairman, secretary and other officials on Thursday. Later in the day, the ministry and UGC officials also held a meeting with DUTA office-bearers.
This came after DUTA held talks with the university administration, including the vice-chancellor, overnight but the talks were inconclusive.
The ministry, in a statement, said the UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education 2018, may be amended.
"It is expected that with the changes, all the ad-hoc/temporary/contract teachers with requisite eligibility, and have taught/have been teaching in the current academic session in the university/Institution/college would be short-listed for the interview for permanent positions," the ministry said.
According to DUTA, however, not all ad-hoc faculty is eligible for interviews for permanent posts but the ministry has suggested some changes, which the teachers' body is still not satisfied with. The teachers also demanded withdrawal of the August 28 circular which mandated appointment of guest teachers against substantive vacancies.
"The colleges/institutions shall fill up permanent vacancies before the start of the next academic session without fail. During the interim period, if vacancies which have to be filled for maintaining smooth academic functioning of the colleges/ institutions, adhoc/temporary/contract/guest faculty can be appointed," the ministry said.
It also directed that the university will decide on all promotion cases quickly.
DUTA vice-president Alok Ranjan Pandey told PTI, "We discussed with the officials and demanded that there be a one-time regulation for absorption of teachers, but there was no assurance. However, they told us that the August 28 circular for appointment of guest teachers against substantive posts will be drafted again to replace the words 'guest teachers' with 'ad-hoc teachers'."
According to the DUTA, the ministry and the UGC said that further dialogue is only possible if they end their siege. However, a final call on continuance of the agitation will be taken on Friday.
Rasal Singh, a member of Academic Council said, "This is a historic movement. The teachers are fighting for their rights, employment and their promotions. There should be a resolution of all the issues."
He said almost 400 teachers, who were appointed after July 20 this year, had lost their jobs due to the August 28 circular, but the ministry assured them that their jobs would not be lost. The teachers had barricaded the vice-chancellor's office over the issue
on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, as a large number of teachers tried
to enter the vice-chancellor's office to meet their protesting
colleagues, they faced barricades at the entrance and heavy police
presence.
As the teachers tried to pass through the
barricades, they were stopped by police. The protesting teachers alleged
that police assaulted them and and some of their colleagues sustained.
While
standing outside, the teachers continued with their protest and raised
slogans and expressed solidarity with the around 200 to 300 colleagues,
who have been staying inside the vice-chancellor's office building since
Wednesday.
The HRD ministry held a meeting with the
university's vice-chancellor, University Grants Commission's (UGC)
chairman, secretary and other officials on Thursday. Later in the day,
the ministry and UGC officials also held a meeting with DUTA
office-bearers.
This came after DUTA held talks with the
university administration, including the vice-chancellor, overnight but
the talks were inconclusive.
The ministry, in a statement,
said the UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of
Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and
measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education 2018, may
be amended.
"It is expected that with the changes, all the
ad-hoc/temporary/contract teachers with requisite eligibility, and have
taught/have been teaching in the current academic session in the
university/Institution/college would be short-listed for the interview
for permanent positions," the ministry said.
According to
DUTA, however, not all ad-hoc faculty is eligible for interviews for
permanent posts but the ministry has suggested some changes, which the
teachers' body is still not satisfied with. The teachers also demanded
withdrawal of the August 28 circular which mandated appointment of guest
teachers against substantive vacancies.
"The
colleges/institutions shall fill up permanent vacancies before the start
of the next academic session without fail. During the interim period,
if vacancies which have to be filled for maintaining smooth academic
functioning of the colleges/ institutions,
adhoc/temporary/contract/guest faculty can be appointed," the ministry
said.
It also directed that the university will decide on all promotion cases quickly.
DUTA
vice-president Alok Ranjan Pandey told PTI, "We discussed with the
officials and demanded that there be a one-time regulation for
absorption of teachers, but there was no assurance. However, they told
us that the August 28 circular for appointment of guest teachers against
substantive posts will be drafted again to replace the words 'guest
teachers' with 'ad-hoc teachers'."
According to the DUTA, the
ministry and the UGC said that further dialogue is only possible if
they end their siege. However, a final call on continuance of the
agitation will be taken on Friday.
Rasal Singh, a member of
Academic Council said, "This is a historic movement. The teachers are
fighting for their rights, employment and their promotions. There should
be a resolution of all the issues."
He said almost 400
teachers, who were appointed after July 20 this year, had lost their
jobs due to the August 28 circular, but the ministry assured them that
their jobs would not be lost.