Teachers of 12 DU colleges start indefinite university shutdown in DU

Teachers of Delhi University on Thursday started an indefinite “university shutdown”, suspending classes in some colleges and refraining from taking up administrative work in some others, to protest against the delayed salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff at 12 government-funded colleges. Teachers also called us and asked if they could take classes after 5pm, after their official working hours so that students do not suffer.” Sujit Kumar, executive member of staff association of the state government-funded Bhim Rao Ambedkar College and Commerce teacher said that their college had observed the strike. A Delhi government spokesperson said the situation implies “bad financial management” by college authorities who had not paid salaries despite release of grants. “The non-submission of utilisation certificates of previous instalments by the colleges has delayed the release of final instalment by the Delhi government.It seems as if there is an attempt to hide financial irregularities by not submitting utilisation certificates,” the official said, adding that they would launch a probe into the ‘financial mismanagement’. The 10-member governing body of the college comprises people nominated both by the university and the Delhi government and take important decisions, like appointment of staff members.