PUNE, Oct 11: An indefinite hunger strike was launched by six teachers at the Fergusson College campus today, demanding dissolution of the governing body of the Deccan Education Society (DES) and an inquiry into several alleged malpractices of the DES.The striking teachers, representing the Pune District Backward Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff Association, Pune, and the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research Club, are demanding that a candidate from the Nomadic Tribe (NT) be appointed as principal of Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) following the directives of the Bombay High Court, Government of Maharashtra, and the University of Pune, which recently declared that the post is reserved for NT category.``The excess fees illegally charged to students of the reserved category must be refunded immediately,'' said M N Kamble, chairman of the Backward Teaching and Non-teaching Staff Association, at a press conference today, adding that an administrator must be appointed to inquire into irregularities at the DES.Claiming that reserved category teachers have been suffering injustices at the DES-run colleges, the agitating teachers have submitted a list of 20 grievances and demands to DES authorities. These include, immediate termination of services of teachers from open category who are working on reserved category posts, immediate demotion of lecturers who have not cleared their National or State Eligibility Tests, but have been confirmed, and representation of reserved category teachers in the governing body of DES and the junior college committee.
