Edu-leaders

The Delhi High Court Monday said that no contempt proceedings would be initiated against the teachers of Delhi University-affiliated Dyal Singh College who had flouted the court's order by protesting against the semester system, but asked all teachers to co-operate in the system's implementation.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna said: "At present, we are not inclined to proceed for contempt, but we command that all the teachers of the University of Delhi and all colleges affiliated to the university shall cooperate in all aspects and teach in the semester mode and not proceed on the path of deviation which would, in the slightest manner, bring them in the net of the violators of the orders of the court."

On May 12, the bench reserved its order on charges by Delhi University that teachers of Dyal Singh College had decided not to teach in the semester mode.

Counsel for the university moved an application alleging that the teachers of the college should be punished for contempt of court because they tried to stall the implementation of semester system.

"We may note with profit that when these matters were heard, this court had, apart from hearing the counsel for the petitioners (Delhi University Teachers Association and others), also heard some of the teachers who had shown their concern for the students but we cannot, at present, ignore the stand of the University that the semester system is in the interest of the students," the court said.

Noting the petitions would not entail deciding which system will be in the interest of the students as the court was not an expert and this was to be decided by the university authorities, the bench said it would only go into the question of whether the introduction of the semester system has been done in accordance with the provisions of the University Act and other relevant rules.

"We hope that the teaching community, which is expected to be a disciplined one, shall not compel this court to take any stringent action because of their conduct or action in future. They should await the verdict of this court."

On the issue of validating the varsity's move to implement semester system in all its courses from the current academic year, the court ordered the matter be listed on July 12 for final disposal.

Source: igovernment