SRCC Teachers Protest Against Leave Rules and Raise Concerns Over Administrative Decisions

Teachers at Shri Ram College of Commerce protested against the rejection of leave applications and raised concerns over administrative decisions affecting faculty rights.

On Thursday, faculty members at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) demonstrated on campus. The protest was reportedly sparked by disagreements over leave policies, according to the staff association. The college administration has yet to comment on the matter. Dr. Saurabh Gupta, Joint Secretary of the SRCC Staff Association, stated that since December 2025, leave requests have been denied using the centenary celebrations as a blanket reason.

Dr. Gupta emphasised that celebrating a centenary should not infringe upon statutory employee rights. The immediate cause of the protest was the refusal of Child Care Leave (CCL) for four faculty members. CCL is a statutory right for government employees, but the college cited ongoing centenary events as a reason for denying these requests, arguing that faculty should remain present during this period.

Concerns Over Administrative Decisions

Beyond CCL issues, faculty members expressed broader concerns about recent administrative decisions impacting their working conditions. A significant worry is the creation of a Leave Advisory Committee by the college's governing body. The staff association claims this committee lacks elected teacher representatives and includes external university members, making it non-statutory.

Previously, leave matters were managed internally or through recognised bodies. Teachers argue that any changes to such procedures require ordinance-level approval. Additionally, there is dissatisfaction with the sudden tightening of medical leave rules. Faculty are now required to submit medical and fitness certificates even for a single day of sick leave, which they claim was not previously enforced at SRCC.

Impact on Female Faculty Members

This new practice disproportionately affects female staff dealing with routine health issues, according to the statement from the association. After multiple leave applications and negotiations failed to resolve these issues, the SRCC Staff Association organised a symbolic rally on campus from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Key office-bearers like President Dr. Amarjeet Singh and Vice President Dr. Kapil Dev Yadav participated in this demonstration.

The Delhi University Teachers Association also intervened, with its secretary visiting the campus to mediate between parties involved. Despite these efforts, core issues remain unresolved while academic activities continue as usual. Teachers insist their protest is not against centenary celebrations but against overriding statutory rights and unilateral decision-making without transparency.

Ongoing Efforts for Resolution

The staff association has vowed to persist in seeking redress until their concerns are addressed adequately. They stress that their protest aims to highlight issues of transparency and decision-making processes rather than oppose celebratory events marking SRCC's centenary year.

With inputs from PTI