URGENT: Alumni statement on unlawful termination of Safai-Karamcharis by the University: Seeking endorsements

[Nikita Agarwal]

Dear all,

On ___ December, NLU Delhi administration without any due process, and without any prior notice terminated 55 safai karamcharis who have been keeping the campus and the hostels clean since the university was founded in 2013. Several of these workers we know personally. The students and workers sat on protest outside the University but were told by the police that Section 144 has been insituted in the area and anyone found in groups of 3-4 will be arrested. The University has demonstrated a remarkable apathy to fair labour standards. The statement of the students has been carried by Live Law in this link: https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/nlu-d-students-protest-against-wrongful-removal-of-housekeeping-staff-of-the-university-read-statement-151337?fbclid=IwAR07cSgahiWEg5m9OieLQSCfGh0AAAJYi6XPLPnvpKsy4mcmdG3n63xcjgo

I have drafted a statement, enclosed within the attached Google form. We are now circulating this to all alumni; if you wish to sign the statement please fill out the Google form and we will include your names in the final letter by 7 pm on 7.1.2020:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1z1D1YYFTn8SFb3CKeGNbmBgXarc_6VhWEvc4S7F4ABQ/edit  

Best regards,

Nikita 

[Nikita Agarwal]

On 30th December, NLU Delhi administration without any due process, and without any prior notice terminated 55 safai karamcharis who have been keeping the campus and the hostels clean since the university was founded in 2013. Several of these workers we know personally. The students and workers sat on protest outside the University but were told by the police that Section 144 has been insituted in the area and anyone found in groups of 3-4 will be arrested. The University has demonstrated a remarkable apathy to fair labour standards. The statement of the students has been carried by Live Law in this link: https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/nlu-d-students-protest-against-wrongful-removal-of-housekeeping-staff-of-the-university-read-statement-151337?fbclid=IwAR07cSgahiWEg5m9OieLQSCfGh0AAAJYi6XPLPnvpKsy4mcmdG3n63xcjgo

[Gunjan Chawla]

Hi Nikita

Thank you taking the initiative to draft this statement. Although I can empathize with the plight of the employees whose services have been terminated unlawfully by the University, as someone who is also employed by the University on an annual contract basis myself, I am unable to sign this petition which demands a "full reinstatement of all the workers as permanent workers". I agree that this mode of hiring employees is far from ideal or just, and it pains me to write this - I can hear the protest chants of the students sitting in my office in the Academic Block - I don't think the administrative rules and regulations of the University in their present form are conducive to meeting this demand.

As for the demand for "immediate revocation of Section 144 IPC from the area outside the University", I would be grateful if you could share a copy of the order issued by the local Magistrate to this effect. I believe I can contribute to the cause in my capacity as a researcher at the University, and write a piece on how Section 144 of the CrPC has been weaponised against dissent by the Government in recent times, and how it has impacted University campuses in the city.

Also, please note that Section 144 of the IPC is a provision of substantive criminal law which punishes the offence of 'Joining an Unlawful Assembly with a Deadly Weapon'. This may appear related, but is different from Section 144 of the Code of Criminal procedure, which is the relevant provision in this case. You might want to consider amending your statement to this effect.

As one last request, it would be useful to all those interested in signing if you could clarify the deadline, as I received your last email after 7 pm on 7 Jan 2020.

Happy New Year, and I hope you're well.

Warmly,

Gunjan

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Gunjan Chawla | Programme Manager, Technology and National Security

Centre for Communication Governance | National Law University Delhi | Sector-14, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110078 | 

Cell:(+91) 9810131715 | Office: (+91) 11-280-31265 |  www.ccgdelhi.org . www.ccgtlr.org . www.nludelhi.ac.in | 

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