*DUTA held a massive Dharna at UGC*
*Opposed UGC Clarification on Withdrawal of Ph.D/M.Phil Increments**
More than a thousand teachers of DU and its colleges held a Demonstration at UGC and shouted slogans to demand the withdrawal of notice issued by UGC to stop and recover the payment made to newly recruited teachers granted to them as incentive for higher qualification Ph.D/ M.phil.
DUTA president, Prof A K Bhagi said that Ph D /M Phil incentive increments were given to teachers for higher qualifications in all the pay commissions (from 4th to 7th Pay Revision). Institutions under AICTE and IITs also give these increments. In Nov 2017, the government declared 7th revised pay scales for teachers and tried to withdraw these advance increments but it faced stiff opposition from all sections of teachers and organisations. Later, Minister of Education agreed to teachers demands and continued with Advance increments for higher degree holders such as M Phil/M Tech etc and Ph D. The then HRD Minister, Shri Prakash Javadekar held a Press Briefing on 13th June, 2018 in New Delhi that was also covered by Press Information Bureau, GoI and stated that “In order to attract and retain the best quality teachers and other academic staff in Universities and Colleges, the UGC has brought out new regulations. Incentives to teachers as provided in the earlier Regulations of 2010 and subsequent amendments have been retained. These include incentives for M.Phil/Ph.D”.
Later UGC Regulations 2018 were declared on 18th July in which incentive increments were retained for higher degree holders. Dr Bhagi stated that it is unfortunate that UGC issued a clarification to universities and colleges that advance increments are not permitted as per Nov. 2017 letter and totally ignored Gazette Notification of UGC issued on 18 July 2018. This will negatively affect nearly thousands of teachers across India including DU. UGC and GoI can’t go back from what was given to teachers in the 7th PRC.
DUTA Secretary, Sh. Anil Kumar said that DUTA also rejects the UGC Regulations 2025 and demands counting of full past service for promotion and sanctioning of EWS expansion teaching positions from the Govt.
DUTA submitted a memorandum to UGC officials and demanded that the M Phil and Ph D incentive increments must continue as per Gazette Notification of 18 July, 2018 and UGC must withdraw its clarification letters denying these incentives to higher qualified teachers.
Office Bearers of DUTA, Dr. Sudhanshu Kumar and Dr. Trivendra Chumbak reiterated that if the DUTA demands are not met then the agitation will be escalated following more action programmes.
The President and Secretary of Allahabad University Teachers Association (AUTA) and Treasurer of Allahabad University Constituent Colleges Teachers’ Association (AUCCTA) also participated in the DUTA Dharna at UGC and lent their full support