V-C labels DUTA’s protest illegal

The standoff between Delhi University (DU) administration and the Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) is unlikely to end soon.

The standoff between Delhi University (DU) administration and the Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) is unlikely to end soon.

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DUTA’s Thursday dharna has run into trouble with the office of the registrar sending letters to all college principals, informing them that the dharna is against the High Court’s order.

“Teachers are not allowed to disrupt classes to protest. Strong action will be taken against any teacher absent from work on Thursday,” said Dinesh Singh, vice chancellor, DU.

DUTA had planned the dharna to protest against the V-C’s unresponsive and irresponsible attitude. “We have been requesting a dialogue with him for months but he has not responded. He has also made declarations about the functioning of DU without putting up projects in front of either the Academic Council or Executive Council. This is unacceptable,” said Amar Deo Sharma, president, DUTA.

Teachers, who had planned to join the protest, say that they will not flout any court orders. “The order was against missing classes to protest. No one will miss classes. The V-C is trying to take away from us the right to peaceful protest,” said Abhi Dev Habib, member, DUTA.