Motilal College defers sacking of teachers after DUTA protest

Motilal Nehru College (Morning) stayed its decision to sack three faculty members, including two who have been with the college for seven years, following a day-long demonstration by the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA).

Two teachers from Hindi and one from Computer Science department were terminated on Tuesday evening by the Delhi University college on the basis of UGC-mandated workload calculation allocated to each faculty member.

However, in a letter issued late on Thursday, the college authorities cancelled that decision and deferred it till the calculation is redone by the staff and approved by the governing body.

"This is for the information of all concerned that because of representation of staff association it has been decided to keep the termination of two ad hoc teachers in Hindi department and one in Computer Science department in abeyance."

"The final decision on this matter would be subjected to recalculation of the workload by all the departments and its due acceptance and forwarding by the staff council and final approval by the governing body," read the letter issued by Principal Subhasish Haldar.

The Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) had picketed the college for most part of Thursday against the terminations, which it called "arbitrary" and a violation of "Delhi University Act, its Statute, and ordinances".

"The instances of removal of ad hoc teachers have increased lately. Few have been terminated in IP College and Gargi College as well. We just appeal to the university to not play with the careers of long-employed teachers," DUTA Vice President Sudhanshu Kumar told IANS.

He added that two of the teachers who were terminated are associated with Motilal College for more than seven years.

--IANS

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