Indraprastha teachers say deans harass them, varsity plans inquiry

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University teachers’ association members on Tuesday alleged that a student, son of a dean in one of the schools of the University misbehaved with a faculty member. A senior officer said an inquiry will be set up to look into the allegations.

A member of IP teachers’ association said son of dean of school of law and legal studies misbehaved with the faculty member by tearing his answer sheet when his demand was dismissed.

“The son pursuing weekend master of law course from the varsity dialled his mother’s (dean) number and asked the faculty in-charge to talk to her. The faculty has been teaching here for the past 10 years,” said the member.

The member said about 40 teachers and LLM students went to the vice chancellor’s office demanding to be heard.

“The VC kept us waiting. But we finally met him. We told him that the dean’s son has been using unfair methods like internal exams paper being leaked to him and his mother asking teachers to give him more marks. This should not be seen as an isolated case of harassment by a dean,” said the member.

Two days ago, the teachers’ association members protested outside registrar’s office against a teacher being served a show cause notice for not taking class.

“The notice was delivered at a time when she was taking the class. But it was mentioned as ‘not taken’ in the notice. This is a mockery of functioning of deans. The registrar heard the teachers’ body for the first time and asked to give a written complaint,” the member said

The member added that the teacher has taken leave for a few days and is seeking legal help to write the complaint.

The varsity does not recognise teachers’ body.

“In the 13 years of the University, the VC finally met the teachers’ body on Tuesday. Our pent-up anger of not being heard came out. Although VC refused to recognise our association, he said an inquiry will be set up and action will be taken immediately,” said the member.

IP University comes under the Delhi government. The teachers’ association members are planning to meet the chief minister.

A senior officer said the University has a grievance rederessal system for looking into written complaints. However, the teachers’ association members said despite several written complaints regarding harassment of teachers, no action has been taken yet.