The DUTA statement yesterday was partly based on a letter written by Shri Javid Chowdhury, Chancellor’s nominee on the Executive Council of DU, to the VC yesterday. In that letter Shri Javid Chowdhury had raised several objections to the convening of an emergent meeting with very little advance notice though the agenda items were not emergent in nature but matters appropriate for a regular meeting. Regular meetings require reaching the notice and agenda items not less than seven days in advance. He also pointed out that the issue of nominating a second name in place of Prof. K Kasturirangan to the Search Committee was not on the agenda and, while pointing out that the manner in which the Executive Council takes such decisions are faulty, had suggested a more appropriate method of circulating a panel of names before the Executive Council decides on a name. In this letter, he erroneously mentioned Prof. Kasturirangan as Scientific adviser to PM and member of the Search Committee for appointment of DU VC in 2010. While the correct name was that of Shri R. Chidambaram, Shri Chowdhury’s point about about the conflict of interest even at that time remains valid.
While the DUTA regrets any wrong impression which inadvertently may arise as a consequence of the error, it concurs with the observations made by Shri Chowdhury with regard to conduct of the Executive Council. In fact the meeting of the Executive Council today again took up the matter of nominating a member to the Search Committee without the matter being on its agenda and repeating the unsound practice of the VC proposing a name during the meeting. No panel of names was considered again. Such slighting of the powers and responsibilities of the Executive Council by the Vice-Chancellor repeatedly underscores the need to take action against him. The huge embarrassment to the University and the consequent uncalled for delay in the process of selection of the new VC has been caused by Prof. Dinesh Singh. He appointed Prof. Kasturirangan as an honorary Professor of Delhi University and then proposed his name as a member of the search committee.
Shri. Chowdhury admitted his mistake that he named Prof K. Kasturirangan while Prof. R Chidambaram, the then Scientific Adviser to the PM, was a member of the Search Committee in 2010. It is unacceptable that, despite admitting his mistake, Shri Chowdhury was formally censured, an act of pure vindictiveness given the unequivocally critical positions taken by the Shri Chowdhury against the functioning of the Vice Chancellor. Ironically, Prof. Dinesh Singh did not admit his mistake in having proposed and got approved Prof. Kasturirangan’s name for the current Search Committee and, as expected, was not censured by the EC!
The DUTA reiterates its demand for immediate stringent action against Prof. Dinesh Singh on the grounds mentioned above. It is extremely unfortunate that despite the efforts made by the DUTA to draw attention to the extreme misgovernance, abuse of power and corruption under the current Vice-Chancellor, no action has been taken against him. The manner of decision-making by the Executive Council today substantiates the need for urgent and exemplary action.
Welcome development on promotions: The DUTA welcomes the adoption by the EC of the UGC clarification dt Aug 4, 2015. According to this clarification, all teachers whose promotions from AGP 7000 to 8000 are due on/before 30.6.2010 are eligible for the same promotion in accordance with the scheme of MPS-1998 without the requirement of API & would be automatically placed in PB 4 after 3 years. This provision will give relief to hundreds of teachers in colleges, and has come as result of sustained struggle by the DUTA. The DUTA also re-iterates its demand that all those whose date of eligibility falls before 17.8.2013, the date of amendment of the Ordinance to incorporate PBAS in Delhi University, should be governed by the earlier CAS scheme that was operational at the time.
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