The Delhi University’s Academic Council unanimously approved new promotion regulations for teachers in its departments and centers on Thursday, with some modifications. The guidelines faced opposition from various teacher groups and independent activists. The council meeting experienced disruption as teacher representatives protested against the proposed promotion rules, leading to a brief adjournment by Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh.
The revised rules stipulate that, to qualify for promotion to different levels of assistant professorship, applicants must have a specified minimum number of publications in Scopus Index journals. Additionally, publication in UGC care listed journals is now mandatory, a criterion not present in the UGC 2018 regulations for university teachers’ promotions.
The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) criticized the proposal, stating that it creates discrimination for those joining after July 1, 2024. According to DUTA, the proposed changes introduce a disparity between teachers promoted under the existing UGC regulations and those eligible for the new regulations after July 1, 2024.
Members of the Left-affiliated Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) expressed their dissent over the changes in the promotion rules and condemned their approval in the meeting. The Academic Council members also raised concerns about issues such as the displacement of ad-hoc teachers, delays in releasing teachers’ salaries and retired teachers’ pensions, and the provision of maternity leave to ad-hoc employees.
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