Ad hocism continues in DU

NEW DELHI: The issue of reappointment of ad hoc teachers at Delhi University is raging yet again. The victims are not just the few teachers who are at the receiving end of not being reappointed on time, but Delhi University students at large.
Not having an ad hoc teacher on time means no classes for a few weeks. As and when the ad hoc appointments are made, the timetable is changed to suit the convenience and workload of all staff members sending students in a readjustment tizzy.And if the lecturer is a guest lecturer, leaving mid-session isn''t uncommon, especially if they get an ad hoc or temporary appointment somewhere else. The students are bearing the brunt of the situation.
Meanwhile, this year again many colleges are facing the ire of teacher organisations for not having reappointed ad hoc teachers on time. If an ad hoc teacher who has worked till the last working day of the previous academic session is not appointed on the first day of the new academic session, he or she doesn''t get their summer salary which amounts to about Rs 40,000.
Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) president Aditya Narayan Misra said: "We have communicated our displeasure to colleagues about the issue and will take it up strongly in the interest of students and ad hoc teachers."
He mentioned that five ad hoc teachers at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee College and two at Aurobindo College have not been re-appointed. Meanwhile, Democratic Teacher''s Front (DTF) president Meena Gupta mentioned the cases of colleges like Daulat Ram College and Miranda House.
University sources reveal that while at Daulat Ram about 10 teachers have not been reappointed, at Miranda House they have been reappointed from July 16 but have been made to sign an undertaking stating that if the University Grants Commission (UGC) does not send their summer salary, the teachers will not claim the same.
Meanwhile, the staff association secretary of Miranda House, Nandini Dutta said: "The fact that everyone has been reappointed means they are entitled to their summer salary. If the UGC releases it, they will be given their dues."
Daulat Ram College principal Malathi Subramaniam, however, said: "Reappointments have not been made against only those posts for which an SC/ ST category candidate has to be selected." She added that only those teachers who have been with the college for a full year or more have been reappointed on July 16, entitling them to the summer salary.