Hindu College staff body flags ECA, sports admission irregularities; principal denies

The Hindu College Staff Association alleged that “over-admissions” under extracurricular activities (ECA) and sports categories had been facilitated in select departments with the involvement of the college principal. The association demanded an impartial inquiry into the alleged irregularities. The principal, however, denied the claims.

The association passed a resolution at an emergency meeting on August 18, alleging that procedural violations had occurred in admissions under sports and ECA categories and that the college’s statutory bodies had been bypassed. The resolution expressed concern over the alleged role of the principal in facilitating over-admissions in the two categories, despite Delhi University acknowledging the excess admissions as inadvertent.

"The House expresses its dismay at the evidently dubious role that the principal of our college played in facilitating Sports and ECA over-admissions in select departments, despite the university's admission of the same as being inadvertent," the resolution said.

"The House, therefore, unequivocally condemns the principal for her inability to uphold the issues flagged by our staff members which were as per rules/regulations and stipulations of the university," it added.

The association also criticised the principal for allegedly failing to uphold concerns raised by staff members regarding university rules and regulations. The controversy comes amid the ongoing Delhi University admission process, which is expected to conclude by August 31.

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'Allocations were made by DU'

Hindu College Principal Anju Srivastava rejected the allegations, saying the allocations were made directly by Delhi University and that the principal had no role in the process apart from giving final approvals.

“The allocations are done by the university directly, and the principal does not play any role in the process, except for the final approvals which are effectively on paper. The staff council is the body which is responsible for organising student admissions within university frameworks,” she said.

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Staffs demand impartial inquiry

The staff association also called for an impartial inquiry into the alleged violations. Ratan Lal, a faculty member in the History department and president of the staff association, said 5 percent of the college’s sanctioned strength of 960 seats, or around 48 seats, was allocated to the ECA category.

He said these seats were meant to be distributed among all departments but alleged that excess allocations had been made and the staff council, a body constituted under the Delhi University ordinance, had been bypassed.

(With PTI inputs)