MHRD likely to file SLP in SC against new faculty reservation formula; DUTA holds Candle Light Vigil

NEW DELHI, APRIL 10: The teachers of the University OF Delhi (DU) organized Candle Light Vigil against the University Grants Commission (UGC) notification asking universities to prepare department-wise roster for reservation instead of the existing system in which a University or college is taken as a unit.

However, the Centre is likely to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court in a day or two seeking a stay on the Allahabad High Court order following which the UGC came up with the new reservation formula for appointment in universities and colleges.

The Candle Light march was taken out by the Delhi University Teachers Association in outside the UGC office, the teachers raised slogans demanding the withdrawal of notification and continuation of the 200-point roster.

The teachers have been protesting against the 5th March UGC letter instructing colleges and university to make department-wise roster instead of the current system where the University/college is taken as a unit.

The DUTA says, “There is unanimous agreement among teachers across the country that if the roster is made department-wise, and not taking college as a unit, it will drastically reduce the number of seats reserved for SC/ST/OBC and delay the attainment of required percentages as mandated by the Constitution.”

Teachers are also alleging that the notification is a last-minute imposition of a new roster system as a ploy to further delay the appointments process in the university.

“This is a huge setback for thousands of teachers languishing in ad-hoc positions who were hoping for the permanent appointments to start under the orders of the High Court. This sudden U-turn by the MHRD and the UGC has pushed the process into deep uncertainty,” DUTA alleged.

The association has demanded that the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) immediately files the SLP against the Allahabad High Court judgment so that the appointment process can resume and temporary and ad hoc teachers can be absorbed/regularised.