22 out of 77 Delhi University colleges headless

At least 22 out of 77 Delhi University colleges are running without a permanent principal, which has enraged the university’s teacher association that has been demanding the streamlining of the appointment process.

Hindu college, Sri Ram College of Commerce, Kirorimal College and Kamla Nehru college are some of the prestigious colleges that are supervised either by acting principal or an officer on special duty (OSD). The post of principal in Hindu college has been vacant for past few years and even their website shows that the last permanent principal held the post till 2008.

Other colleges which are running under a temporary arrangement include Rajdhani college, Gargi college, Institute of Home Economics, Deshbandhu college, Bharti college, Aurobindo college and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee college, among others.

A member of Delhi University Teachers Association (Duta) said, “There are so many posts lying vacant in the university. The process of appointments has been completely halted. We have raised the issue many times. Some of the colleges do not have adequate faculty and permanent principal for years. Around 4,000 posts of teachers have also been lying vacant,”

DU’s SC-ST forum convenor Hansraj Suman also raised the issue of reservation rosters not being properly followed in recruitments by the university. “According to DU ordinances, appointment of OSD is only for a period of six months as it is a temporary arrangement. Further permission from the Vice Chancellor is needed if there has to be an extension of that period. How these colleges are running with OSD’s or acting principals for years is a matter of concern,” he said.

According to the Delhi University officials, the process of appointment of principals has been set in motion and the delay has been caused due to the “transition” following retirement of vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh and taking over by the new incumbent Yogesh Tyagi.

DU spokesperson Malay Neerav said, “The HRD ministry had directed all the appointments to be stopped after July 31 last year, three months before Dinesh Singh’s tenure was to end as the vice-chancellor. He demitted office in October and the new V-C took charge last month. So this transition had halted the process of appointments, which has been resumed now. Positions have been advertised, interviews will be conducted soon”.