DU colleges charge more application fee

◗ Neither were they interviewed nor was the fee refunded, he said, adding after the new VC took charge in 2016 the SCs/ STs and women were exempt from paying fee

New Delhi, Jan. 8: Several Delhi University ( DU) colleges have been accused of collecting application fee more than once from those aspiring to join the institution as the assistant professors.

It has also been alleged that the colleges neither call any applicant for an interview nor have returned their money.

While Dean of Colleges Devesh K. Sinha said he didn’t have data about the number of applications received and fee charged, the Academic Council member and professor of Sri Aurobindo College Hansraj Suman said a huge sum of “unclaimed money” has been collected as application fee.

“Nearly 40 colleges have advertised to recruitment to the posts of assistant professors two years ago with a fee of 500 for general category and 250 for OBC, SC/ ST and handicapped aspirants,” Mr Suman said.

Neither the applicants were interviewed nor the fee was refunded, he said, adding that after the new VC took charge in February 2016, the SC/ ST and women candidates were exempt from submitting fee.

“The colleges have the addresses of every applicant and can always send cheques if they want to refund,” he said, adding he had also raised the issue during the Academic Council meet.

Responding to the allegation, Mr Sinha said he would look into the issue and direct colleges to arrange for refund.

Delhi University Teachers’ Association president Rajib Ray said there were colleges that have advertised twice or thrice for the same post, but did not interview anyone.

“Ethically, one should call for interview or refund the money. After 18 months, there is another advertisement for the same post. At least they should exempt applicants who have already paid the money,” Mr Ray said.

The DUTA president said very few appointments took place since 2015 and the number of received high as 7 lakhs.

“Since 2015, interviews have taken place in very few departments of merely eight to nine colleges. Both colleges and university have been maintaining a lackadaisical attitude,” he said.

The association said that it has raised the issue in executive council meetings as well. The Academic Council is a body that takes all academic decisions of the university. These decisions come into effect after being approves by the executive council. applications were as