New Delhi: The uncertainty at Delhi University over admissions into the undergraduate programme continues. A flurry of meetings to sort the matter out have taken place and have been scheduled for Monday.
Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani held a meeting with the University Grants Commission Chairman on Monday. The UGC Chairman said that he will wait for a decision by DU before taking a step forward. However, Irani said that she won't interfere in the matter. HRD Ministry sources say that the UGC is supreme and that the University must follow its orders.
Former HRD Minister Pallam Raju has said that the issue must not be politicised. "I feel it is a matter which is being sorted out between the UGC and the university and certainly the autonomy of universities must be respected and in the process the most important thing to keep in mind is the interests of students which must be protected. New initiatives like this ought to be supported. It's gone out of hands because of the politics surrounding the issue. The manner in which all political parties are focusing on this is not a healthy trend. While it is now upto the wisdom of the present government the matter should not be politicised and objectivity needs to be maintained," he said.
Interests of students should be above everything else. They should not get affected"
Meanwhile DU officials also held a meeting at the Vice Chancellor's home. A 10-member committee, which has been formed to look into the matter, will be meeting at 3 pm. DU students also held protests against the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme.
Sources have also told CNN-IBN that Delhi University will reply to the University Grants Commission over the controversial 4-year programme by Monday afternoon. They say they are in touch with the UGC. The principals of most colleges say they are waiting for a statement from the VC but they want to release the cut-off on time.
The UGC in its letter to DU colleges said that a contravention of the order could lead to serious action including withdrawal of grant facilities. In the letter to Delhi University colleges UGC Secretary Jaspal Singh Sandhu said, "I am directed to request that colleges shall admit students at the UG level for academic year 2014-2015 only to the 3 year UG programme which was offered by it prior to the introduction of the four year system and report compliance to the UGC soon after. Any deviation or contravention of this order shall be viewed seriously and may attract action including withdrawal of grant facilities."
The Delhi University Teachers Association has welcomed the UGC move adding that the University does not have any legal right to defy the order.
"They had first written to the VC, but the VC went ahead and didn't respond to that and went ahead saying that he intends to take admissions into the FYUP. After that they sent an order saying that this course has to be cancelled, but the VC even after that said that the UGC should reconsider. So that is why, because there's very little time, the admissions start after 2 days, the UGC had to intervene with the colleges. I'm glad that they have sent a direct letter to the college principals," said DUTA President Nandita Narain.
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