DU faculty urges VC to lift appointment ban on colleges

Delhi University VC in his letter sent to some of the colleges has prevented their administration from making full-time or part-time appointments

Some of the faculty members of Delhi University who are also part of the Academic Council and Executive Council have urged the Vice Chancellor to withdraw his letter to constituent colleges putting a ban on recruitment and other important decisions in the absence of full-time principals.

Delhi University (DU) VC in his letter sent to some of the colleges of the university has prevented their administration from making full-time or part-time appointments on teaching or non-teaching posts in the absence of a full-time principal.

Terming this move as detrimental, Seema Das, Rajpal Singh Pawar, who are members of DU EC and Kapila Mallah, Alok Ranjan Pandey and CM Negi, members of the AC have written to Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, urging him to review the decision without any further delay. “We request you to take appropriate steps in this direction, so as to enable the college GBs to continue performing their duties, vested in them by the university statutes so that the colleges continue to function efficiently without any disruption,” the letter reads.

In their letter, they have stated that as per Ordinance XVIII- 7 (3) an Acting /Officiating Principal is to 'act as the Principal' 'in case of a casual vacancy in the office of the Principal'. Accordingly, the appointments are allowed as and when the requirements arise, even in the case of Acting/Officiating Principals holding the chair.

“As they are performing all other duties of the principals as per the statutes and the rules, such selective ban by the administration seems unnecessary,” the letter states.
It has been stated that due to the ban, recruitment crisis will rise, as guest /ad-hoc teacher's appointment is primarily done to fill the vacuum created due to Child Care Leave, Maternity Leave Medical Leave or any other short-term leaves. But due to the directive in the above-quoted letter, the teachers are facing difficulties in availing different kinds of leaves. This is adversely affecting the student and teaching community.

Freezing the appointment process is somehow related to the staggered academic session and is a way to reduce the financial burden on the government which is in consonance with the New Education Policy (NEP). However, the stakeholders of the affected colleges are suffering.

It states: “The freeze in appointment process will lead to non-availability of teachers in affected colleges, forcing the students to complete their courses through MOOCs/online learning platforms.” This is a way to support and create an environment favourable to the entry of MOOCs/SWAYAM under NEP, which is hidden as of now.

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