Govt stops funding of 28 DU colleges; EC cries foul

Ananya Panda

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 31

The Delhi Government has announced withholding of grants to 28 Delhi University’s constituent colleges, either fully or partially funded by it, over prolonged delay of the varsity in constituting full-fledged governing bodies (GBs).

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has issued order to the finance department for stopping funds to all colleges. Twelve out of the 28 colleges are fully funded by the government and 16 are partially funded.

“Hv ordered Fin Dept to stop funding for all Delhi gov funded 28 DU colleges, as DU not willing to hv governing bodies for last 10 months. I can not allow unchecked corruption and irregularities to be sustained on Delhi govt funds in the name of Education. The sequence of events from Sept 2016 seems to indicate a deliberate and malafied attempt to delay formation of gov bodies by DU,” Sisodia, also the Education Minister, said in a series of tweets.

The government’s move came in the backdrop of series of communications pertaining to the constitution of the GBs of the colleges since October 16 last year when the Registrar, Higher Education of Delhi government asked the DU to send a panel of names for setting up of the bodies.

It was after three reminders from the government, the varsity administration sent a list of names on February 14 while the issue remained stuck over the five names nominated by the government after the DU’s Executive Council rejected the list the second time on July 14 over “skewed” representation.

When asked about the order, Dean of Colleges Prof Devesh K Sinha said the university has begun the exercise of finalising the GBs and has communicated the same to the government. DU has assured the government the GBs will be formed within August and before the faculty appointments as stated by the government.

EC members Dr JL Gupta and Dr Rajesh Jha maintained, “In no case the financial grant be linked to administrative matters. The decision of the government is going to jeopardise the future of thousands of students. We appeal to the government not to withhold the funds and let the new academic session begin normally.”

Since last year most of the colleges are running with truncated governing bodies and minimum quorum (one-third of the total members – 5) comprising two representatives from university and colleges each and one either principal or officiating principal. A governing body of each of these colleges has 15 members with five members of them being appointed by the government.