Call off strike or face contempt of court, lecturers told

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed faculty members
of a Delhi University college to call off their strike or face
contempt of court proceedings. The teachers are demanding action
against a student leader.

The division bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv
Khanna said: "Striking members (lecturers and professors) of Kalindi
College are prohibited from going on strike and are asked to comply
with the provisions of the Delhi University Act, failing which they
will be liable for the contempt of court proceedings."

The court issued notices to the principal of the college in central
Delhi, the Delhi University and others, including the University
Grants Commission. The case would be heard on March 23.

The court was hearing a petition of college student Ramit Garg that a
majority of teachers resigned from various committees of the college
on Sep 29 last year and went on strike demanding action against
Karishma Vaid, president of the students' union.

The petitioner moved the court alleging the teachers' agitation was
affecting studies in the college.

The petition said: "Vaid and her mother earleir lodged a criminal
complaint against Meena Anand, one of the teachers."

"Police in a report gave a clean chit to Anand, even then the teachers
did not call off the strike," the petition said.

"Later, the teacher lodged a complaint against the student leader
under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,"
the petition said. IANS