Political parties join DU teachers' stir over recruitment roster

New Delhi: Leaders of various political parties on Monday joined Delhi University teachers and students in a protest against the non-implementation of a 200-point reservation roster for the recruitment of teachers.

The protest held on Parliament Street "was attended by leaders from various political parties, including Mani Shankar Aiyar of Congress, Udit Raj of BJP, Sitaram Yechury of CPI(M), Dharam Vira Gandhi of AAP and Sharad Yadav of JD(U)", DU Teacher's Association (DUTA) President Nandita Narain said in a statement here.

She said that a memorandum has also been submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to ensure that the constitutional rights of aspirants from SC, ST, OBC and PWD categories are protected, she added.

As per the 200-point reservation roster, the posts for reserved categories and unreserved categories are supposed to be fixed at the time of announcement of vacancies.

"They (the leaders) came in solidarity with the protesting teachers and students. They expressed their resolve to raise the issue in Parliament to ensure that the due rights of the marginalised sections are not subverted in a premier university of the country," said Narain.

The agitation, which was attended by around 200 students and teachers, was jointly organised by DUTA, Academic Forum for Social Justice, Delhi University SC/ST Teachers' Association, Forum of Academics for Social Justice and Sambhavna.

"The university administration has ignored various letters from UGC and HRD ministry pointing out that the reservation roster is not in order and asking it to comply with the UGC Guidelines of 2006. The issue acquires urgency as the process of appointments for nearly 5,000 vacant posts is underway," Narain said.