A ‘black flag’ demonstration was held by members of the Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) on Wednesday, which marked the university’s 97th foundation day, to protest the lack of intervention of the administration in a case of alleged harassment of physical education teachers at two of its colleges.
Two associate professors of the Vivekanand and Shyamlal (E) College have received letters from the principals of these colleges informing them that they would be retiring at the age of 62 instead of 65, DUTA said. The matter has assumed utmost urgency as the professors concerned will attain this in May and July 2019, it said.
By failing to intervene in the matter, the university has failed to protect its own resolutions which determined that physical education teachers should be placed on the faculty roster, it said. It also alleged that the principal of Vivekanand college misrepresented the college governing body’s instruction in the letter, stating that it had directed her to seek “legal opinion”, a claim refuted by members of the body, in a letter to the principal.
The teacher’s union has demanded that “illegal” letters be withdrawn and stepping down of the officiating principals.
It also said that it was disappointed that the V-C had refused to meet their representatives despite holding dharnas in front of his residence since April 23. It added that it would intensify its protests with public meetings and relay hunger strikes starting Thursday.