The Standpoint

Researchers Question the basis for N.E.T Withdrawal

By

Kalpana Gupta

The All India Researchers’ Co-ordination Committee organized a meeting on 31st October 2009. The agenda for discussion was to decide the course of action on the illegal retrospective withdrawal of N.E.T (National Eligibility Test) from M.Phil and Ph.D holders. The meeting incorporated around 200 researchers from renowned universities such as Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia University.

In the open air theatre at the Faculty of Arts, University of Delhi, Sudhanshu, the secretary of A.I.R.C.C chaired the meeting. The committee was supported by the Teacher’s Associations from Haryana, West Bengal, Chennai, Madras and Uttaranchal. “It was on 1st July 2006 that the U.G.C directed the N.E.T exemption for the researchers but suddenly, out of nowhere, they withdrew the exemption on 1st July 2009”, added Sudhanshu, the Secretary.

Adit Narayan Mishra, President of FEDCUTA (Fedration of Central University Teacher’s Association) supported a one-day strike on 1^st July of this year in all the central universities across India. Adding to it, the Protest March also took place from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar on 9th July 2009.” Kapil Sibbal, the Education Minister, however, arrogantly responded to the researchers and kept silent on further appeals”, said one of the representatives who approached Mr. Sibbal on this issue.

The meeting on 31^st October primarily decided as to what the next step should be if they are still unheard. The researchers as well as the Ph.D holders showcased their concerns regarding their loss of six attempts of sitting in the N.E.T exam during this period. As no one forced U.G.C to grant the N.E.T exemption, the researchers and the Ph.D holders who still work as the Guest Lecturers or on ad-hoc basis in various colleges are demanding justice now.

Sukhdev Thorat, Secretary, U.G.C, responded ambiguously. Therefore, after all the possible steps that the researchers took, they have now decided to move to the court and file their petition. The meeting was closed on the note of this decision which ended at 5p.m. in the evening. The researchers and Ph.D holders are feeling under-estimated by this step taken by the U.G.C. “We will not keep silent. We will fight”, claimed one of the students pursuing his doctorate.