The Directorate of Higher Education of the Delhi government sanctioned a total of Rs 21.075 crore for payment of salaries of teachers and other staff of four colleges under the University of Delhi which are funded by the Kejriwal government. This comes as a response to the directions of the High Court of Delhi on November 4. The court had asked the Delhi government to sanction funds for the salaries of the staff in these four colleges. The funds for salaries have been released for nine out of 12 colleges so far.

The current sanction released funds for Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Bhagini Nivedita College, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies and Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College. As much as Rs 19.40 crore was released for salaries and Rs 1.675 crore for other dues. "Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College was also part of the list of six colleges for which the government had released funds before. So essentially only nine colleges have been given the funds," said Dr Abha Dev Habib, Treasurer, DUTA.

The Delhi University Teachers' Association is not happy though with the delayed release of funds. The DUTA has been protesting for this issue for the past few months and had staged physical protests amid the pandemic as well. "We are tired of writing letters and protesting. It is unfortunate that the Delhi Government is dragging its feet and employees have to go to court for salaries. Salaries of employees of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Keshav Mahavidyalaya and Maharshi Valmiki College of Education are still pending. Wherever grants have been sanctioned, it is not sufficient to cover pending dues including reimbursements and arrears due to employees on account of the Seventh Pay Revision," said Dr Habib.