DU session begins on holiday note

NEW DELHI, July 26: Delhi University's 1998-99 session began on a wrong note with classes being held only for one day out of seven workin...

NEW DELHI, July 26: Delhi University8217;s 1998-99 session began on a wrong note with classes being held only for one day out of seven working days since July 16. The reason: Teachers and students were either on strike or were busy with meetings.

On the opening day, Delhi University Student8217;s Union DUSU called for a bandh. The first day registered low attendance, ragging and no classes. Day two was normal.

Day three, July 18, there was a staff association meeting in all colleges. This was followed by the extended meeting of the Delhi University Teacher8217;s Association DUTA executive body. The meetings were to protest the violence on campus during the meeting of the Academic Council and press for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor. The result was just one or no classes.

The 19th of this month was a Sunday, followed by the DUTA general body meeting on Monday, July 20. The meeting was attended by most and the initial attendance was a record of sorts. With over 80 per cent of the teachers being members of DUTA, most colleges in the North and South Campus did not have any classes.

As the teachers discussed the course of action to be taken regarding the pay scale issue and whether the show cause notice issued to three DUTA activists was fair, students killed time in their canteens.

On the 22nd, the teachers planned a march to Parliament. Everyone was there because it involved their salaries. There was slogan-shouting, teachers courted arrest and all the while, classrooms were empty. July 23 was the day DUTA had called for a token strike. Students were informed about it and they took the day off. July 24 was a Friday and things were sluggish despite the fact that this time there were no protests.

Moreover, second- and third-year classes are held up because results for a few courses are still awaited. Controller of examinations B.S. Garg says it is unlikely that all the results will be out by the end of August. A few colleges like Lady Shri Ram, Daulat Ram and Indraprastha have made provisional admissions and started classes for the seniors. At others, there is an uncertainty about when the classes will finally begin.

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The coming week also does not look like an academic week for students of Delhi University. College administrations have not yet found time to make time tables and duty charts for the teachers because the admission process is still not through.

With the cut-offs being on the higher side even in the fourth list, a number of seats in various colleges remained vacant. The result is a barrage of advertisements asking students to contact the college. Candidates are turning up in hordes, filling up their forms and wondering how fair the 8220;admissions-on-merit8221; system will be.