DUTA Press Release: 3 March 2021

The DUTA condemns in strongest terms the attempt by the Delhi Government to take away the College of Art under Delhi University to affiliate it with Ambedkar University. This is yet another example of the total disregard for the statutory provisions of Delhi University by the Delhi Government and reveals its highhanded attitude in dealing with issues of governance in colleges under Delhi University funded by it. This can be seen as a continuation of the attempts to push premier and specialised institutions into self-financing mode with no responsibility to fund as was done in the case of DTU and NSIT.

Earlier last week, the Government had assigned additional charge of the 12 colleges fully funded by it to officials of the Delhi Government without any clear indication to colleges as to what the role of these officials would be. This is a clear case of overreach to allege financial misgovernance in these colleges without any basis. This highly condemnable and illegal act of the Delhi Government is a gross interference in the administrative functioning of the colleges. The appointment of these Administrative Officers (AOs) is a blatant violation of statutory provisions and is aimed at further harassing the institutions and the teachers and karmacharis of these institutions.   

The teachers, karmacharis and students of the 12 colleges of Delhi University fully funded by the Delhi Government are already suffering immensely because of the delayed and sporadic release of grants by the Delhi Government which is affecting their financial, academic and administrative functioning. Employees of these colleges have not been paid salaries and pensions for several months and other dues such as medical reimbursement.

The Delhi Government’s repeated false allegations regarding the financial and administrative management of these colleges is nothing but an attempt to pull wool over the eyes of the public for its failure to timely release grants. The DUTA as well as the teachers of these colleges have been forced to protest against non-payment of salaries for over a year and a half and protest dharnas are being held.

The non-release of grants has also affected the academic and administrative day-to-day functioning of these institutions, infrastructure development and maintenance impacting the functioning of these institutions in myriad ways. The DUTA has been repeatedly pointing out that inordinate and unexplained delays in release of grant have had a crippling effect on these institutions, which are amongst the best colleges of the country and teachers, students and employees will not tolerate this wilful destruction of these premier institutions.

The DUTA warns the Delhi Government to desist from this overreach and to immediately release the grants. The DUTA also demands that notification of appointment of Delhi Government officials in these colleges be immediately withdrawn.

The DUTA strongly condemns the obdurate stance of the Delhi Government and warns it against any further harassment of these institutions and the employees.