DUTA to observe three-day strike from tomorrow

The association of Delhi University teachers will observe another three days of strike from tomorrow to protest what they call the continued illegal occupation of the office of VC by Deepak Pental.

The association of Delhi University teachers will observe another three days of strike from tomorrow to protest what they call the continued illegal occupation of the office of VC by Deepak Pental.

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However, the association assured students that teachers will compensate for all classes lost due to their persistent agitation against Pental, with whom they have been at loggerheads for long.

Delhi University has seen frequent disruption of classes due to the continued rift between the DU Teachers Association (DUTA) and the Vice Chancellor over the issue of the semester system and now over his continuation in office.

DUTA has accused Pental of violating the statute of the University by staying in the office after the expiry of his term, and has also blamed him for trying to derail any independent inquiry into the episode of auction of radioactive material to scrap dealers by the university.

DUTA today gave a call for a protest strike on September 21, 22 and 23 "to focus attention of public and the Union HRD Ministry on the continued illegal occupation by Prof Pental of the office of the Vice-Chancellorship of DU".

Earlier, the teachers had observed total strike on September 7,8 and 9. They also held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on September 13 to demand that the MHRD take action on the issue.

In a statement today, it asked HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, the Visitor and the university community to intervene in the matter.

The association, however, asked students not to be concerned by the agitation which has frequently disrupted classes, and promised that teachers would compensate for all the academic days lost.

"The DUTA has agreed to hold a joint interactive session with DUSU on 24 September, 2010 to discuss all issues related to the present agitations," it said.

The body has also asked teachers to not involve themselves in the conduct of semester-based exams, and go ahead to hold the mid-term examinations, as in the past, in the month of December and January.

"In almost all colleges first year teaching in science departments is taking place in the annual mode despite tall claims by the VC and some of his cronies. It will be impossible for students to take any semester-based examination," it said.

The newly-elected office-bearers of the DU Students Union have also maintained that they were against the semester system being implemented this year in view of the fact that a lot of classes had been lost in agitation, and teachers and students had not been taken into confidence by the administration over the issue.