Intensifying their agitation against the amendments in MP University Act -1973, Madhya Pradesh University Teachers’ Association has decided to court arrest if state government fails to revoke the amendment.
The state government had effected two changes in the Act, one in section 23 which is related to the executive council of the university and another in Section 49, which is related to appointment and transfer of university teachers and employees.
The association sees the amendment as a brazen attack on the autonomy of the state universities.
Earlier, Madhya Pradesh University Teachers’ Association staged a protest against the state government move by wearing a black arm band while on duty on July 21 and sat on hunger strike and took mass leave on August 14. But all went in vain and now the various units of the association are mulling court arrest on September 5 if government ignores their demand.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, association’s president Asha Shukla said the discussion on future strategy among all six units of the universities is on. "We will go to meet chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan soon and press our demands. If the state government fails to revoke decision, the association units will intensify their drive and even court arrest at the chief minister’s residence on September 5," she said.
Teaching staffers here at the Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), Indore, said the most disappointing amendment in the act is regarding transfer of university teachers without their wish.
{{/usCountry}}Teaching staffers here at the Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), Indore, said the most disappointing amendment in the act is regarding transfer of university teachers without their wish.
{{/usCountry}}Devi Ahilya Vishwa-vidhyalaya Teachers Association (DEVTA) secretary Shinde said, "We are not afraid of transfer from one university to another, but we fear degradation of quality. Our employer is DAVV and not the government. The government can’t change employer of an employee without taking his/her consent. The amendment proposes exactly otherwise," he said.
Protesting staffers claimed that amendments in the act have been done without taking consent from the University Grants Commission (UGC) or from the Union ministry of human resource development or discussing the issue with former vice-chancellors or the educationists.