Delhi University has maximum temporary faculty members

One of India’s biggest central universities, Delhi University (DU) has, at 357, the most number of non-permanent faculty members. However, according to the Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA), this number is actually higher given 60 per cent of the teaching staff comprises of guest and ad-hoc faculty members. 

There are a total of around 3,000 ad-hoc and guest faculty members in universities across India, of which the most are in DU,, followed by Jamia Millia Islamia at 336, and Banaras Hindu University at 265. The data was revealed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in reply to a question about faculty strength in central universities. 

“In Delhi University, there have been no interviews to fill up permanent vacancies since 2006, which is why the number of ad-hoc and guest faculty members have increased. It is not just 357, if you include the number of faculty in various DU colleges as well, the number of faculty would be around 4000 teachers. There are 70 colleges in DU,” said Rajesh Jha, General Secretary, DUTA.  

“The UGC regulation says that not more than 10 per cent of faculty in a university should be non-permanent faculty, however as the numbers go around 60 per cent of faculty members in DU are non-permanent,” he added. Teachers in DU claim that apart from job uncertainty, the lack of permanent teachers is also affecting the quality of teaching in the university.  

“Three days ago, 14 teachers were sacked from a DU college in one go. A large-scale sacking like this gives job insecurity to teachers. A large number of ad-hoc teachers have been protesting in the university for around six months now, to get a permanent position. They have a lot of issues, no leaves, no promotions and women do not get maternity leaves,” said another DU professor. 

The government has been talking of filling up of vacancies in various universities from the time of the last HRD Minister Smriti Irani, however the situation has still not improved.        

“The Central Universities are autonomous bodies created under the Acts of Parliament and the onus of filling up the vacant posts including teaching posts lies on them. MHRD and UGC have written many times to the universities to fill up the vacancies and also continuously monitor it with them. It was discussed in meetings with Vice Chancellors of Central Universities on February 18, and October 6, this year,” the Ministry wrote in its reply.

“Filling up of teaching positions was also emphasized in Vice Chancellors conference at Banaras Hindu University. All Vice Chancellors of Central Universities have agreed to fill up the vacant teaching posts on priority basis,” it added.

The incidence and filling up of vacancies in Central Universities is an ongoing and continuous process due to retirements, resignations, deaths, deputations etc. and no time-frame can be given, it said.