Delhi University has instructed its colleges to recruit guest faculty members only in cases where a permanent faculty member is on leave
An official directive issued on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, stated that the heads of Delhi University’s various colleges and departments may only recruit guest faculty members in the event of a vacancy due to leave. Many instructors are so devasted about this that they have written the Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh a letter requesting the order’s immediate denial.
According to an official order issued by the Deputy Registrar (College), the university has instructed its colleges to make such appointments only in cases where a permanent faculty member is on leave, such as maternity, child care, study, subject, medical or extraordinary leave
The DU notification reads, “As per the Delhi University notification, guest faculty appointments in colleges are possible upon vacancy in the form of maternity, child care, study, substitute, medical, or extraordinary leaves. I am therefore instructed to make this clear to prospective guest faculty members.” The notification also states that the heads of its 91 affiliated colleges must make sure that guest faculty members are only appointed when there is a vacancy for leave.
This has led to dissatisfaction among numerous university lecturers. As per a TOI report, The Democratic Teachers Front has demanded in writing that the directive immediately needs to be cancelled. The letter, which is signed by three DUTA executive members and three members of the Academic Council, claims that professors would be required to work overtime as a result of the announcement.
According to the letter, teachers would not only be required to work longer hours than the direct hours outlined in the UGC Regulations of 2018, but their total number of hours may also differ depending on the departments within the college.
The professors also brought up the UGC letter from January 28, 2019, which said that the number of guest faculty members to be appointed can be 20% more than the sanctioned positions in universities where the sanctioned posts are insufficient for the teaching load.
