Delhi University teachers on Tuesday slammed the administration's decision to order suspension of classes for three days in view of the annual cultural festival and alleged that there is no statutory approval for the amount being spent on the event.
The cultural extravaganza, 'Antardhwani', is scheduled from February 20-22.
"The decision to suspend teaching is forced and unwarranted. It shows scant regard, on the part of the VC and the DU administration, for the teaching-learning process. The tight semester schedule, within which teachers and students are struggling to complete the syllabi of courses, does not allow such a break," Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) President Nandita Narain said in a statement on Tuesday.
DUTA had last year also boycotted the festival claiming it to be a varsity administration's "propaganda" and raised serious objections on the funding of the festival.
Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh had also faced flak for making an entry into the festival venue riding on an elephant. "The DUTA 'White Paper' has underlined, among other issues, the fact that the large amount of public money spent on wasteful and ostentatious props like elephants, has no statutory sanction.
While the MHRD has asked DU to explain this misdemeanour, it has shown defiance and utter disregard for public accountability by going ahead with the festival," Narain said. "The DUTA finds it shocking that the university administration can continue the spate of arbitrary decision-making wherein teachers are not consulted on any such occasion.
"It is also shameful that college principals have been ordered to herd students and teachers to the festival venue. This kind of diktat shows that 'Antardhwani' is still being used as a platform to present a cosmetic face of the DU administration, replete with myths of good governance, skill development and innovation," she added.
