Ad hoc to Guest: Delhi University plans to save Rs 311 Cr from teachers' pockets

The provision of ad hoc teachers is about four decades old in Delhi University (DU). However, such teachers are now facing career crisis even after having served the university for about 8-10 years. If the posts are filled with guest teachers, the university is likely to save about Rs 266 to 311 crore per annum.

In a classic case of commercialization of education, Delhi University (DU) has decided to replace about 4,500 ‘ad hoc teachers’ with ‘guest teachers’. Though the university administration is doing it on the name of maintaining quality in higher education, the protesting teachers feel the decision is motivated by commercialisation and is a larger conspiracy to push the higher education towards contractual appointments. 

At the time of appointment, these teaches were promised salary and experience benefits at par with an assistant professor except the increments. Though belonging to the lower ladder in the academic fraternity, there are precedents of ad hoc teachers being appointed directly as professors and directors of the institutes under the university. As the experience is counted, these teachers are also eligible to apply directly for higher grade vacancies in universities and institutes throughout the country. This arrangement of ‘ad hoc teacher’ was made about four decades back to fill the vacancies caused by retiring faculty members so that the students do not suffer. In the course of time it was accepted as a norm in Delhi University. 

Presently these teachers are paid about Rs 57,000 per month plus HRA (house rent allowance) and other benefits. They get about Rs 70,000 per month in their pockets. As the appointment is temporary, they need to get their services renewed before commencement of each academic year. The ad hoc teachers are paid 12 months salary in an academic year while guest teachers are paid about 10 months when there are classes in the university. However, ad hoc teachers are also deployed as invigilators and evaluators and paid as per university norms, the guest teachers are not assigned any such responsibility. Besides, the payment of guest teahers is highly irregular. 

Though the system of guest faculty exists in Delhi University since past couple of years, there have been a few takers for the post because of very nominal pay which is provided on the basis of per-lecture. Their experience is also not counted for higher grade appointments and they are always treated as freshers. In the current academic year, the university appointed about 3,000 guest teachers which Vice Chancellor Yogesh Kumar Tyagi counts as one of the major achievements of his tenure. In the recent convocation of the university, he called it ‘historic’. 

These guest teachers get Rs 1,000 per lecture with a maximum ceiling of Rs 25,000 per month. Besides, they are covered under the provisions of ‘full time employee’ and are not allowed to work for any other institute/ organisation. But, the actual pay for guest teachers is about Rs 15,000 per month because there is ceiling on the number of maximum classes for a guest faculty.  “We are treated as labour in academics but work for some time just to have experience in the class,” said a guest faculty of Delhi University. 

Now the university administration, headed by professors who are paid equal to the Principal Secretary and Additional Secretary rank IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officers of the Government of India, is eyeing the pockets of ad hoc teachers to save about Rs 266 to Rs 311 Crore per annum {Approximate money to be saved by Delhi University = 4,500 x (70,000 x 12 - 25,000 x 10) to 4,500 (70,000 x 12- 15,000 x 10) = Rs 266 Cr to 311 Cr}. Interesntingly, a huge majority of these professors started their carrers as adhoc teachers in Delhi University. Now, they plan to force ad hoc teachers either to work as guest teachers or leave the university system. Although the university always uses a phrase ‘as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC)’, it failed to approve a decision of the regulator to hike the maximum payment for guest faculty from existing Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 per month. 

There is another dimension to this crisis. The protesting teachers also allege that the Vice Chancellor does not want the ad hoc teachers to be in race for permanent appointments. There is also hectic lobbying in the campus to grab permanent positions. 

As the circular for abolishing the system of ad hoc appointment by DU was issued on 28 August, 2019, the teachers argue that it cannot be applied retrospectively. It reads, “The colleges are therefore advised to fill up the permanent vacancies at the earliest and till permanent appointments are made, colleges may appoint guest faculty, if required, against new vacancies arising first time in academic session 2019-20”.  As the university is following semester system, the contract of ad hoc teachers are required to be renewed at the commencement of the new semester which is going to start from January 1, 2020. The teachers have now decided to go on strike and boycott all the activities of the university including evaluation of the previous semester examination.    

The ad hoc teachers argue that any good practice which is in the interest of students, teaching and learning becomes a rule. Besides, the ad hoc arrangement is also statutory as there are provisions of temporary appointments in ‘University Statute’ and the Executive Council (EC) of the university had time and again framed rules for temporary appointments through ad hoc arrangements. This practice was followed by the university for smooth functioning and teaching in campus and colleges. They also allege that the university administration pressurizing principals to discontinue the ad hoc teachers and engage guest teachers from the next semester.   

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