The DTF (๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ’ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ญ) unequivocally condemns the shocking highhandedness displayed by the Jamia Administration in dissolving the Teachersโ Association and in suspending the Returning Officer appointed by the Executive Committee of the JTA to conduct its forthcoming elections.
On dissolving of JTA, its president Professor Majid Jamil told the OT over phone that our term expires in November and the administration has no right to dissolve it. Also, the JTA has called GBM to discuss suspension of its colleague tomorrow, he said.
The OT tried to reach the university Registrar to get his view on the development but he was not available.
In a memo issued by Registrar Nazim Husain Al-Jafri on Thursday, the university said it informed Professor Sonya Surabhi Gupta that her appointment as returning officer is unlawful as the constitution of JTA has not been approved by the competent body.
โThe act of Prof Sonya Surabhi Gupta is against the clause of Service Agreement UGC Regulation 2018 and JMI Act Statutes and Ordinances which construed grievous misconduct on her part,โ the memo read doing the round.
โIn view of the above, the Vice Chancellor by exercising the power vested in her hereby places Prof Sonya Surabhi Gupta, Centre for Spanish and Latin American Studies JMI, under suspension with immediate effect pending an inquiry. During the suspension period, she will not be allowed to leave the headquarters without permission of the competent authority,โ the memo added.
Gupta, however, rejected all the allegations. โI have not done anything illegal and whatever actions I have taken it was done as part of JTA member and as per JTA constitution,โ Gupta told PTI over phone.
In another notification on Thursday, the Registrar said the vice chancellor, Jamia, on the recommendation of the deans of faculties has approved to declare the notification by Prof Gupta to conduct the election of the JTA as โnull and voidโ.
โThe present teachersโ association is hereby dissolved with immediate effect because their term came to an end on 15.5.2022,โ the notification said.
โIt further authorised the Vice Chancellor to constitute a committee to look into the shortcomings of the bye-laws/constitution of the JTA and submit a report within a period of one month so that notification of transparent and smooth conduct of election of JTA can be made at the earliest after following due process,โ it added.
In its order released today, the Jamia Administration wants to take over the task of amending the JTA constitution and holding elections at a later date, said the DTF.
โThis is nothing but an administrative overreach and an assault on the democratic rights of teachers and other employees to form their own associations. Administrations have no right to determine the constitution of employeesโ associations or on matters of conduct of elections. This is purely the prerogative of the JTA GBM,โ it said.
Further, the Administration has taken the draconian step of suspending, Professor Sonya Surabhi Gupta, a senior Professor of the university, for accepting JTA EC’s request to conduct the elections as Returning Officer (RO), it said in a statement issued to the media.
The charges leveled against in the office order are not only specious but also completely absurd and ridiculous, it said.
โIt equates teachers conducting their own elections with engaging in โany trade or businessโ, or undertaking โany other employment and commitment including private teaching and coaching classes.โ The absurdity of the charges reveal the blatant and naked exercise of power by an administration that sees independent unions/ associations as threats,โ it said.
The DTF said it demands immediate withdrawal of these office orders.
The DTF called upon teachers across the country to stand up for teachersโ rights to form associations independent of administrative control. Also, the DTF called upon the Federation of Central Universities Teachersโ Association (FEDCUTA) to join voice and initiate protest action in defence of its constituent member association, said the DTF carrying signature of ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง, ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ and ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฏ ๐๐๐๐ข๐, ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฒ.
