DU EC undecided on signing MoU with HRD Ministry, UGC

The Delhi University's executive council has deferred taking a decision on the signing of an MoU among the varsity, HRD Ministry and the UGC over funds, even after extensive deliberations, an official said Saturday. 

The contentious issue of whether the varsity should sign the MoU to continue receiving funds from the University Grants Commission (UGC) was deferred for the next meeting, an EC member said.

The meeting of the executive council (EC) started Thursday and discussions lasted till 3 am Friday. It resumed 12 hours later, but was adjourned again at 3 am on Saturday, an EC member said, adding that it will meet again on October 3.The UGC had shared the draft with the university and a committee of the EC was formed to study and revise it. But the revised draft was shared with the EC members just a few hours before the meeting, another EC member said.

"It was felt that the MoU needed a discussion and the revised draft has to be studied in detail. The decision on the MoU was deferred till the next meeting," the member added.

The standoff between the governing body of the Dayal Singh College and its principal, and the lack of facilities at the Delhi School of Journalism were among other issues discussed during the meeting, the other member said.

The issue of NSIT, which was earlier under the Delhi University, and now functioning as the Netaji Subhash University of Technology was also raised.

Rajesh Jha, a member of the EC, said a committee has been formed and it will meet the Delhi lieutenant governor, and put forth a representation to undo the move, the member said.

The EC also found an assistant registrar, accused of sexual harassment by a junior contractual employee, guilty and asked him to tender a written apology.

The Internal Complaints Committee had found him guilty, but a sub-committee of the EC made different recommendations, the member said.

However, the EC members opposed the decision of the sub-committee and it was said that the accused will tender an apology and he will be transferred to another department, the member said.

The issue of ad-hoc teachers not getting permanent jobs and thus, being deprived of benefits such as maternity leaves, and some retired teachers and non-teaching staff not getting pension was also raised.

The EC has decided to take these issues up in a meeting that will be held in the third week of October, the member said.

In the Delhi School of Journalism case, council members noted that it was functioning with two contractual teachers for almost 248 students and without adequate facilities.

Students there have been protesting over the issue and some even went on a hunger strike against the issue recently.

The EC members also questioned the high fees being charged by the institute, which is a self-financed and was started last year.

They also questioned the vice-chancellor on the issue at Dyal Singh College where Governing Body Chairman Amitabh Singh had asked Principal IS Bakshi to proceed on a long leave, the member said.

The vice-chancellor was asked whether the governing body had the power to suspend classes, call bouncers to prevent the entry of protesting students and teachers, the member said.

They were assured that a dialogue was being held with Sinha and Bakshi and the issue will be resolved soon, the member said.