DUTA claims that salary reductions in Delhi government-funded DU colleges are occurring.
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DUTA Salary Reductions Claims
The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) asserts that Delhi University colleges have been reducing teacher salaries over the past 3–4 years. This is due to a funding shortage. Overall, 12 government-funded projects have made these cuts. On April 3, a high-level committee convened to address concerns regarding these 12 fully funded DU colleges by the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). The Secretary (Finance) of GNCTD chaired the committee.
Representation and Demands by DUTA
A representation dated December 3, 2023, detailed the concerns raised during the meeting. DUTA and the Delhi University Principals Association jointly submitted this on December 3, 2023. DUTA demanded the withdrawal of two letters from Minister Atishi, dated December 1, 2023, and January 19, 2024. These letters allege irregularities in teacher selections and misuse of public funds in 12 Delhi government-funded colleges. DUTA criticized these letters. They labeled them as attempts to coerce colleges into backing the government’s agenda of transforming publicly funded institutions into self-financing entities.
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Initiatives Post-Meeting
After the meeting, they decided to obtain information regarding teaching and non-teaching posts created by the college governing bodies in accordance with DU and UGC norms. This encompasses information regarding the posts approved by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) and their current filling status. All 12 colleges at DU, fully funded by the GNCTD, provided such information. They will devise and circulate a pro forma among these colleges. The colleges must provide the necessary information, along with supporting documents and orders, to DHE by April 4, 2024.
Account Status and Fund Utilization
During the meeting, the Deputy Secretary (Finance) emphasized that colleges maintain various funds and accounts at their level. The chairperson expressed an interest in obtaining the status of these accounts, including the closing balance as of March 31, 2024, and details of the interest earned. The colleges are encouraged to furnish details about all such accounts in the specified format. Additionally, they are requested to delineate the objectives and purposes for utilizing these funds in accordance with the prevailing UGC/DU regulations. They advise considering the option of utilizing these funds for both staff salaries and capital projects. This approach could help lessen the financial strain on GNCTD.
Subsequent Obligations of Colleges
Principals of all 12 colleges have received instructions to furnish details regarding employee-specific fund obligations.
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These include medical reimbursements, retirement benefits, promotional arrears, and 7th CPC arrears. The colleges must submit this information using the prescribed format provided by the DHE.
