DU will urge Delhi Govt to approve posts, release funds timely for 12 colleges

NEW DELHI: In a historic joint meeting of the Delhi University Executive Council (EC) and Academic Council (AC), the university resolved to request Delhi government for granting approval to teaching and non-teaching posts and releasing funds on time for the 12 DU colleges funded by the government.

DU had constituted an EC committee under the chairmanship of DU South Delhi campus director Prakash Singh (SPS) following Delhi education minister Atishi’s letter to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleging misuse of funds and illegal appointment in the 12 colleges.

“The report of this committee was unanimously accepted in the 1270th meeting of DU EC held on July 27. In today's joint meeting, while collectively accepting the report of this committee, it was decided to make the Delhi government aware of the findings and recommendations of this report,” said DU in an official statement. Besides, the university has also formed a panel on another issue of PhD supervision by college teachers, on the recommendation of DU vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh.

While the members present in the joint meeting appreciated the report of the SPS committee for considering all the issues in detail; they also decided to urge the Delhi government to improve the situation of these 12 colleges.

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Delhi University’s appeal to government

The university council members decided to make a request to the Delhi government on the following matters:

• Grant ex-post facto approval to the teaching and non-teaching staff posts, created by the governing bodies of the respective colleges and expedite the process.

• Ensure timely release of funds (other than salaries and wages) including deficit in respect of all 12 colleges, in order to maintain the academic standards of the university.

• Instruct the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure proper repair and timely maintenance of buildings, other infrastructure of these colleges in the larger interest of the students. Apart from this, the VC was authorized to take any step "deemed appropriate" in the interest of these 12 institutions with the joint approval of both the councils.

SPS panel report on 12 DU colleges

According to the SPS report, “these twelve colleges are constituent colleges of the University of Delhi as per the prescribed norms and are an integral part of DU. Their recognition cannot be cancelled.”

Following an intense discussion during the zero hour in the EC meeting held on December 15 last year on the allegations made by the education minister regarding the colleges, VC Singh suggested the formation of an EC committee on this issue which was unanimously passed.

To prepare its report, the committee held four meetings and suggested that while the creation of the academic and non-academic posts is as per the recruitment rules prescribed by UGC, and claimed that there is no unauthorized appropriation of funds from one head to another, no arbitrary and irregular payment for cleanliness and security, and no financial irregularities in the colleges.

“Any attempt to disaffiliate these colleges from University of Delhi is neither legally justified nor in the interest of the students, teaching and non-teaching staff and the academic community of University of Delhi. It is also a violation of the Act, statues, ordinances and guidelines of University of Delhi and the procedure prescribed as per the law. Therefore, the letter (dated 01.12.2023 and note dated 19.01.2024) of Ms Atishi, Education Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi is not legally valid as it violates the provision of the Act, Statues and Ordinances of the University. Hence, it needs to be withdrawn immediately,” the DU report added.