New Delhi: Around 200 officers and staff members from Government Polytechnics and Technical Education Institutions across Delhi joined a peaceful march organized by the Gazetted Officers Forum for Technical Education, Delhi (GOFTE). The demonstration aimed to present a memorandum to the Directorate of Training & Technical Education (DTTE), highlighting key concerns related to the welfare of employees, faculty, and students in the technical education system.
The participants stated that when Government Polytechnics were merged into the Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU) in 2021, a large number of employees were placed on so-called “Deemed Deputation” without their consent. According to the employees, this arrangement has continued for nearly five years, creating uncertainty regarding their service conditions, cadre status, career progression, and long-term benefits.
The Forum demanded that all Government Polytechnics be restored under the administrative control of the Directorate of Training & Technical Education (DTTE) and separated from DSEU so that technical education can function under the framework for which these institutions were originally established.
Representatives of the Forum emphasized that the faculty members and officers of Government Polytechnics were recruited through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and are governed by AICTE norms and regulations. However, after the merger, they have been placed within a university structure primarily governed by UGC norms, creating administrative and academic inconsistencies.
The Forum further stated that diploma-level technical education falls within the regulatory framework of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). According to the representatives, recommendations obtained during the merger process also indicated the requirement of AICTE approval for diploma programmes.
They alleged that the absence of AICTE approval and compliance raises serious concerns regarding the quality and recognition of technical education being imparted to students.
Employees also expressed concern over unresolved service-related issues, including pension-related matters, medical facilities, LTC benefits, and other service protections. They reiterated that they were placed on deemed deputation without obtaining their consent and that these concerns remain unresolved even after five years.
The memorandum highlighted the deteriorating condition of infrastructure in several Government Polytechnics. Participants alleged that many buildings suffer from water leakage during the rainy season, damaged toilets, inadequate maintenance, and a lack of investment in laboratories, workshops, and modern equipment. According to the Forum, the overall quality of technical education is being adversely affected, ultimately impacting students.
The Forum further stated that approximately 400 Gazetted Officers and nearly 300 Non-Gazetted employees continue to face uncertainty regarding their future cadre status and administrative control. Representatives argued that the prolonged continuation of a so-called deemed deputation arrangement requires urgent review in light of applicable service rules and government guidelines.
The participants submitted a memorandum to the Directorate of Training & Technical Education and urged the Government of Delhi to take an early and decisive view on the future of Government Polytechnics, the service rights of employees, and the interests of students pursuing technical education.
The march remained peaceful, disciplined, and non-disruptive throughout, with participants reiterating their commitment to democratic and lawful means of expressing their concerns.
