HC directs DU teachers to take classes under new system

The Delhi High Court today directed all Delhi University teachers to start taking classes from tomorrow by following the new semester system in view of the first examination under it being scheduled for December six.

The Delhi High Court today directed all Delhi University teachers to start taking classes from tomorrow by following the new semester system in view of the first examination under it being scheduled for December six.

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A division bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Manmohan, in an order, said if any teacher deviated from doing so, the colleges could treat the deviation period as "absenteeism" and take action as per the law.

"Education cannot be thrown away into Pacific ocean by these teachers who are taking law into their hands by going on strike. The rule of law has to prevail and teachers are bound to follow the instructions of the University administration," said the bench.

The bench directed all 31 colleges, in which semester system was to be implemented, to inform the University in case of any difficulty so that alternative arrangements keeping the examination in mind could be made.

The court also allowed the University to consider the deferment of the examination date in consultation with the colleges and the University Grant Commission(UGC). Asking the DU to constitute a core committee to monitor the situation, the judges asked the UGC to nominate a reputed educationist as member of the committee.

On October 29, the agitating teachers had called off their strike on a direction of the High Court. The teachers have been protesting against implementation of the semester system by the University at the undergraduate level in science courses from the current academic year.