BackDU crisis continues, UGC issues fresh ultimatum
UGC asks DU to start the admission process from Thursday onwards after rolling back the four-year undergraduate programme
Premium
New Delhi: With Delhi University still on a defiant path, the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday night gave a fresh ultimatum to it to begin the admission process for the undergraduate classes dumping the controversial four-year course.
After long discussions between Delhi University (DU) and UGC officials, the UGC issued the directive in the night in the wake of reservations among the colleges over implementing the three-year programme and starting the admission process.
Notwithstanding the UGC claim that 57 of the 64 colleges have accepted its directive, confusion reigned supreme over the admissions because the colleges felt they need clear cut guidelines from a “competent authority".
In the midst of all these developments, a move was initiated by a group of academicians, said to be supporters of DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh, in a bid to break the deadlock. They have proposed a three-year honours programme in place of the four-year course.
Senior HRD ministry officials said that the UGC has issued an ultimatum in the night to DU to start the admission process from Thursday onwards after rolling back the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP).
There was no official reaction from the University but representatives of colleges expressed difficulty in implementing without clearance from the “competent" authority.
“We have agreed to the UGC’s order in principle but we cannot move forward without the directive of the university. It is not an individual decision. There are too many steps," said S Lakshmi Devi, secretary of DU Principals Association.
A defiant DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh made no statement but held confabulations with his supporters. One of the academicians involved in the compromise proposal talked to Singh over telephone and suggested that he adopt a middle path but the VC continued to be defiant, the academic said.
Ever since UGC directed DU to roll back FYUP and conduct admission for three-year programme, there has been uncertainty over the admission process that involves the fate of over 2.7 lakh students clamouring for 54,000 seats in 64 colleges. DU Registrar Alka Sharma said that the university has received a “document" from some eminent citizens outlining “concrete" suggestions for the solution of the current situation as it exists.
“While welcoming this initiative, the University is examining in detail the document and is working with the expectation that the admission process shall be able to commence soon," Sharma said.
Opponents of the four-year programme were critical of the Registrar’s statement. Nandita Narain, DU Teachers Association President and member of UGC’s standing committee dubbed it as “unacceptable".
She criticised the new proposal was “formated suggestions".
S.K. Garg, president of DU’s Principals’ Association, who had announced deferring of the admission process on Monday, said they were waiting for the DU to take a decision on the matter.
“We are waiting for the university to take a decision on whether it wants to go back to the old three-year structure or compress the FYUP into a three-year format. We are waiting for an amendment to the university’s ordinance and only then we can go ahead with the admissions," Garg said.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
