JOIN USThe admission process in the Delhi University was stalled for the third day on Thursday, even as negotiations continued between the varsity and the University Grants Commission (UGC) over a compromise formula.
The formula was suggested by a group of academicians to resolve the stalemate over the undergraduate programme.
The DU ignored the UGC directive to commence the admission process, deferred since Tuesday, and instead wrote to the UGC recommending consideration of a six-point proposal mooted by academicians. Among other things, it sought replacement of the controversial four-year undergraduate programme with a three-year honours course.
Official sources said there was agreement on five of the six points under discussion.
The stalemate persisted on the idea that students wishing to study a fourth year can be offered a research programme in the honours course within an overall credit based system with the approval of the regulatory bodies.
Shortly after receiving the letter from DU, UGC chairman Ved Prakash met HRD Minister Smriti Irani and also held deliberations with senior ministry officials.
Officials said the UGC had categorically made it clear to DU to start admission under the three-year programme or face freezing of grants.
The discussions went on till late in the night in the HRD Ministry but there was no word on the outcome.
Earlier in the day, ignoring the UGC’s directive to start the admission process for undergraduate courses, the DU threw the ball back in the UGC’s court by forwarding the academicians’ proposal.
The UGC had on Wednesday set a deadline of Thursday morning for the DU to roll back the controversial four-year undergraduate programme and start admission as per the earlier three-year structure.
In response, the DU sent a letter to the commission which said, “The university is of the opinion that given the situation where admissions are being delayed, time is of essence and hence this blended proposal submitted by some eminent persons to the UGC and DU may provide the necessary way forward.”