DU Committee Recommends Ad-Hoc Teachers Be Given Maternity Leave

A committee set up by Delhi University (DU) has recommended paid maternity leave for ad-hoc teachers in its final meeting on Thursday (1 November). DU’s Academic Council (AC) will take a final decision on the matter, The Indian Express has reported.

DU has formed the 20-member committee - including four principals, seven AC members and representatives of various departments - to look into the operational aspects of the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations of 2018.

The committee unanimously took the decision that for the remaining term after delivery, ad-hoc teachers should get maternity leave with salary.

Pankaj Garg, who is member of the committee, told IE that the situation of ad-hoc teachers was so bad that some of them had to join work two days after delivery in order to retain their jobs.

“We have recommended that at any point during the term, if the teacher delivers, for the period after that, she should be given maternity leave with salary,” said Garg.

Hansraj Suman, another member of the committee, said, “During the leave, only guest lecturers can be appointed, and the teacher will rejoin once her leave period is over,” adding that the step was taken on “humanitarian grounds”.

According to the report, a member had said that the committee had taken a final decision on the matter, but the ratification of the AC and executive council (EC) was still pending.

However, committee chairperson DK Singh said that, “Nothing is final till the minutes are formulated, which will take another 15-20 days.”