Form governing bodies before appointing faculty, govt tells colleges

Delhi government has asked Delhi University colleges funded by it to not go ahead with the appointment of faculty till governing bodies are formed. It threatened to withhold funds if its orders are not obeyed.

The government asked the university to “duly constitute” the governing bodies, which will include five members nominated by the government, before making any appointments.

DU colleges have been advertising vacant faculty posts following a Delhi high court order.

The director of higher education on Thursday sent a letter to the DU registrar and said the move to advertise for the posts had been “viewed adversely” by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, keeping in view his earlier direction in this regard.

“…it may be recalled that it was instructed that appointments to various posts in these colleges should not happen as this may lead to allegations of misuse by the truncated governing bodies,” the letter said.

The letter said, “Any appointment should ideally be made once governing bodies are duly reconstituted.” In case of non-compliance , “the grant-in-aid of Delhi government-funded colleges concerned may be withheld”.

The university said the faculty will be appointed will after governing bodies are formed. “The colleges have only advertised as per a HC order. It will take a couple of weeks for the final process to start. By the end of this month, the governing bodies will be constituted,” a top DU official said.

There are 28 DU colleges fully and partially funded by the government. The governing body of each college has 15 members out of which five are nominated by the government.

“Another five members are selected by the government out of a list of nominations sent by the colleges. There are two university nominees, two teachers’ representatives and a principal in the committee,” a university official said.