Ad-hoc teachers can continue until permanent teachers are appointed

On Friday, Delhi University issued an order to all of its affiliated colleges stating that ad-hoc faculty can continue to teach until permanent teachers are appointed. The order was issued at the behest of the HRD Ministry. Earlier, three colleges— Aryabhatta College, Lady Shri Ram College and Keshav Mahavidyalaya— issued notices suggesting the end of services of the ad-hoc teachers, however they clarified that the orders were issued in the absence of any specific orders from the DU administration.

DU registrar Tarun Kumar Das told The Indian Express, “No direction has been issued by the university for termination of ad hoc teachers in respect of the colleges. College principals are responsible for any action taken by them.”

On December 5, the government asked the University to amend its August 28 circular to categorically state that ad-hoc teachers can continue the services until the permanent appointments are made.

In the August 28 circular, DU has advised colleges to “fill permanent vacancies at the earliest,” and appoint guest faculty in the interim “against new vacancies arising first time in 2019-20” which caused confusion among the colleges and as a result many colleges did not issue appointment letters to the ad-hoc teachers (renewal letters) and did not issue their salaries.

“Colleges shall fill permanent vacancies in a timebound manner… if vacancies which have to be filled for maintaining smooth academic functioning of colleges/ institutions, ad hoc/temporary/ contract/guest faculty can be appointed till permanent faculty is recruited,” read DU’s Friday order.