DUTA Press Release, 15 July 2014

                                    

It comes as a shock to the DUTA that despite the fact that Professor Dinesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, Delhi University, has received much flak for violating rules and regulations, no lessons have been learnt. Prof Singh continues to run this University as his fiefdom.

The principle of rotation laid down under Ordinance XXIII in appointment of Heads of Departments in several cases has been violated in a completely non-transparent manner in the past few years. This arbitrary abuse of the rules seems to stem from the desire to bypass individuals who would not be pliant to the Vice-Chancellor’s commands. Ordinance XXIII (1) stipulates that “The Head of the Department shall be appointed by the Vice-Chancellor by observing, as far as possible, the principle of rotation”. As discretion cannot mean discrimination, the principle of rotation was always upheld.

The latest glaring example of such arbitrary use of powers is the case in the Department of Geology. Professor J.P. Shrivastava, Department of Geology, has been refused Headship twice. Professor C. S. Dubey was appointed Head on 1.6.2011. On expiry of his term on 2 June 2014, his term was extended till further orders even though the Ordinance does not provide for any such extension. Prof. Dubey is currently also Director, Campus of Open Learning and therefore a member of the Vice-Chancellor’s team -, Chairman, Delhi University Sports Council, and Dean, Faculty of Science. Bypassing Professor J.P. Shrivastava, Professor Devesh Kumar Sinha, who is six years junior to Professor J. P. Shrivastav, has now been appointed as the Head, Geology Department for three years. This was done after Prof. J.P. Shrivastava wrote to the Vice-Chancellor protesting against the extension of Headship of Prof. C.S. Dubey. It is one of the many cases of extending favours and rewards to those who were seen as close to the administration and ready to support it in all its actions. All these illegalities have been implemented through notifications signed by the Registrar, Alka Sharma.

The DUTA condemns this continuing high-handedness of the Vice Chancellor. It urges the Visitor to intervene urgently and institute a comprehensive enquiry into the numerous examples of blatant violations of all rules and regulations and large-scale academic and administrative misgovernance by the Vice-Chancellor and his team. As long as this administration continues in office, it will do its utmost to tamper with the evidence about its misdeeds.

NANDITA NARAIN President, DUTA

HARISH KHANNA Secretary, DUTA

---