EDUCATION

FOCUTA lends support to DUTA strike
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, August 3
The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) has called for a strike on Monday, in protest against the UGC and the Ministry of Human Resource Development moves to increase teachers’ workload, declare 35 per cent staff as excess, allow 80 per cent of posts to be filled on temporary basis, freeze new recruitment, impose 10 per cent cut in staff strength and abolish all posts older than one year.

The Federation of Central Universities Teachers Association (FOCUTA) has also decided to lend their support to DUTA. DUTA has objected to this move on the basis of its guidelines. DUTA claims that regulations have mandatory value and not guidelines. The high court as per DUTA has also mentioned that the guidelines by the UGC are not right. The rejoinder, which has been sent to the UGC by DUTA, has also pointed out that both the timing of the letters (shortly after reopening of the university and admission of thousands of new students) and the misrepresentations and inconsistencies in them expose the irresponsibility of the UGC. The strike and dharna will be the first action by the DUTA against the UGC.

The DUTA at its general body meeting on August 21 will decide for a weeklong strike as their next step in the agitation. DUTA and its team have already addressed meetings in 24 colleges across the Capital. Similar meetings are being scheduled for the following weeks.

Gurgaon Law College
Who can make this fledgling bird fly?
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, August 3
The Maharshi Dayanand University National Law College at Gurgaon seems to be in turmoil.

Since its birth in 2001, the institute has seen three directors; the university has apparently failed to find a suitable person to head the college.

Dr L.C. Dhingra, who was appointed Director after proper selection a few months ago, was asked to resign on Friday for his alleged inept handling of the college administration. His resignation has been sought to ‘defuse’ the situation arising out of the unrest among the students and the faculty.

The Law College is the brain child of Vice Chancellor Maj Gen (Retd)Bhim Singh Suhag, who is keen to provide the best education in law to students from north India. (The country has four national law colleges but these are situated at far off places like Bangalore, Pune, Calcutta and Hyderabad. Interestingly, the founder-director (deemed Vice Chancellor) of National Law College, Hyderabad, Dr Ranbir Singh, is from the faculty of Law Department of this university.

Incidentally, the Law College at Gurgaon does not depend on any grant from any source. Also, it is a matter of prestige to be admitted in this institute. Moreover, the entire faculty has been recruited on contract, a take-off on the American and European model of faculty appointment.

Although there is nothing extraordinary about the qualifications needed for the post of Director of the National Law College, the university has failed to find a suitable candidate who can make the fledgling bird fly. The university, a senior faculty member told the ‘NCR Tribune’ on condition of anonymity, would have to provide perks and privileges at par with those in other National Law Colleges, if it wants to attract the best talent.

Interestingly, he said, all the three directors, who had headed the institute have been on the faculty of Law Department of this university. While two of these directors did not fulfil the essential qualifications, the third has been asked to resign yesterday.

This action of the university authorities has sent a wrong signal as is evident from the long list of demands submitted by the students of the National Law College to the university.

Rewari schools have surplus teachers

Rewari
As many as 117 lecturers, 140 masters and 51 C and V teachers posted in various government schools in Rewari district have been found surplus during a recent survey conducted under the Rationalisation Campaign of the State Education Department, according to Mr Murli Dhar Gothwal, District Education Officer, Rewari.

Further, the survey has also revealed that filling of posts in various government schools of the district requires the services of 89 lecturers including 51 full-timers and 38 part-timers as well as 131 masters which includes 40 full-timers and 91 part-timers. Besides, the requirement of C and V teachers stands at 156 which is inclusive of 104 full-timers and 52 part-timers as against the surplus staff of 51 C and V teachers. OC