Is DU discriminating?

 

 

The National Commission for Schedule Castes has issued a notice to Delhi University Vice-Chancellor, Deepak Paintal, in a case of discrimination against scheduled castes and tribes. Notices have been sent to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Human Resources development (HRD).

Says the notice: “It has been alleged that the posts of teaching staff (lecturer) are being filled on an ad-hoc basis, particularly reserved for SCs, by general category candidates.” Therefore, the Commission “has decided to investigate/inquire into the matter”.

Delhi University SC/ST Teachers Association’s president, Dhani Ram, had in a complaint said that 763 lecturers were working in the Delhi University and its colleges on an ad-hoc basis, while actually, these posts were reserved for SC/ST candidates. There are more than 8,600 teaching posts in DU. On the basis of 22.5 % reservation for SC/ST category, the number works out to be around 1800. Out of these only 437 (368 SCs and 69 STs) posts are filled.

According to the complaint, the HRD and the UGC have directed that the backlog of the SC/ST quota be cleared before any fresh appointments are made from the general category. Thus these 763 appointments are clearly in violation of the rules.

The complainant has said that the Supreme Court and various High Courts have also directed that ad-hoc appointments should be avoided.

The Chennai High Court has directed that no guest lecturer or ad-hoc lecturer be appointed or allowed to continue after March 2006. In a judgment in June this year, the Supreme Court too had taken cognisance of the malaise. It had flayed the practice of appointing teachers on an ad-hoc basis in higher education institutions, particularly in universities. Government officials themselves claim that there are specific orders issued by concerned departments from time to time so that appointments are streamlined.

In fact, the Commission has listed several instances in the government and public sector units where the situation is similar. When TSI asked DU’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Deepak Paintal, the VC said: "I am not aware of such notice.'' Considering that the University was supposed to submit its reply within three days, the VC did not appear to be in any particular hurry.