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BOMBAY UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE TEACHERS’ UNION

(BUCTU)
(Registered Under the Trade Union Act. 1926, Reg. No. By-11-8296 of 1986)
VidyapeethVidyarthiBhavan, 'B' Road, Churchgate, MUMBAI 400 020
Mumbai, 21stJanuary 2017

The Vice Chancellor,

University of Mumbai
Fort Campus
Mumbai

Sub: Hunger Strike by Office-bearers, members of Executive Committee and core activists of
BUCTU on Friday 27th January 2017
Ref: I) Memoranda to Vice Chancellor, University of Mumbai dated 9/5/2014 and 4/1/2017
II) Copy of Memorandum to Hon’ble Chancellor dated 20/09/2016 (submitted to University on
22/9/16)
III) Note on Exams – Exhibit A (attached)
Respected Sir,
Time and again the Bombay University and College Teachers’ Union has drawn your
attention to some of the very grave issues affecting the teaching community in the affiliated
colleges and university departments. In particular, we have repeatedly requested the university
authorities to take determined efforts against the serious violation of rules and regulations by
the Principals and managements of self-financed Engineering colleges. We put on record the
following issues, among others, awaiting concrete action by the University: -
1) Critical situation in Engineering colleges- non-payment of full salaries to the staff, driving
them to near poverty conditions and serious irregularities being committed by the
managements of these colleges, severely compromising the academic interests of their
students (Ref I).
2) Ad-hoc and coterie functioning, adversely affecting administrative and academic
governance (Ref II)
3) Unplanned examinations, sudden change of structure and irrational subject revision resulting
in loss of teaching days as well as vacation. No accountability fixed on BOE for the
unexplained delay in results (Exhibit A).
4) Circular of minimum payment of Rs. 30,000 pm to Contract teachers not issued to colleges
despite assurance given in meeting in May 2016, showing scant concern for the exploited
teachers
5) Recommendations of Inquiry Committees’ reports against harassment of staff in Wilson,
Pendharkar and B. Nene colleges not implemented. Serious violation of norms and rules
and extreme harassment of teachers by the Principal of Doshi Vakil College, Goregaon,
Raigad district (Memorandum submitted by teachers to Vice Chancellor in May 2016 and
reminder submitted in December 2016) have been ignored. On the contrary, the Vice
Chancellor made it a point to visit one of the above colleges to declare strong support for
the Principal. Teachers from department of Mathematics have undergone tremendous
harassment due to arbitrary and autocratic decisions.
We are constrained to point out that absence of any initiative from the university
authorities for resolving the issues has emboldened some of the managements to continue
violation of rules with impunity. We are extremely anguished at the lack of concern exhibited
by the University. Despite our attempts, you have not given us a meeting since June 2016.
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In the above situation, the Executive Committee (EC) of BUCTU has decided that to
register our protest, the office-bearers, members of EC and some of our core activists will hold
a one-day HUNGER STRIKE in University’s Fort campus on Friday, 27th January 2017,
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As suggested by you telephonically, a BUCTU delegation met the
Registrar on 17th January 2017, where the above concerns were put on record and our decision
was conveyed. We request you to meet our delegation on 27th January at about 3 p.m.
With regards,
EupYours truly,

( Dr.Rohini Sivabalan) (Dr. Madhu Paranjape)

President General Secretary

CC: The Registrar, University of Mumbai