Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) on Tuesday, August 5th, 2014 released its ‘White Paper’ against the Vice Chancellor, Dinesh Singh at a press conference. Singh, who has been in news in the recent past for the FYUP debacle, gets no respite even after the rollback of the controversial regime.
With this paper that focuses on the financial, administrative and academic irregularities by the VC, DUTA calls out to the President of India, Shri. Pranab Mukherjee to launch a comprehensive Inquiry against the Vice Chancellor, pending which, he should be made to go on leave.
In the past one year, DUTA has come up with many such allegations against Singh, but this is the first time that the organization has drafted a 41-page release supported by documents and evidences (acquired by RTI). Additionally, this White Paper has also noted the lack of personal probity and academic integrity on his part as well as violations of the Delhi University Act, statutes, rules and regulations made.
DUTA’s press statement states that, “Normalcy and a sense of justice will not be restored unless the Vice Chancellor and his core team of senior officials are brought to book and the University is given the opportunity to put these shameful years behind and move ahead.”
DUTA’s paper in its various sub-pointers alleged the VC of mis-governance, victimization and harassment of teachers as well as violations in promotions and implementation of the reservation policy. On the financial front, DUTA accused the VC of (mis)using approximately 172 crores of the OBC grants for buying 62,600 laptops for the first year students of the much discussed and no longer existing four year undergraduate programme.
“The provision of laptops to the students was just bribe by the VC to students to keep their mouth shut when they were not happy with the course. This money was actually meant for up-gradation of infrastructure in the University and for the betterment of the teaching faculty”, Nandita Naraian, DUTA president said.
Vice Chancellor was also held accountable for charges of appointing faculty that favored FYUP and violating UGC norms and the national policy of 10+2+3 system.
Funds worth crores were also diverted to run Gyanodaya Express and organize foreign tours for the VC and other officers of the University. For the very same reason, there were regular complaints throughout the year pertaining to the absence of VC in the University to address the grievances of students and teachers. University cultural festival– Antardhwani which was a mere way of showcasing VC’s pet programmes (like FYUP) used a lot of finances. Rs. 125 crores were also shifted from the development fund of School of Open Learning to VC and the university authorities for framing of courses and setting up SOL study centre in Ramanujan College.
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RTI filed regarding the purchase and distribution of Laptops by the University[/caption]
Anita Gosh, Joint Secretary of DUTA highlighted the condition of sports and the university stadiums in the tenure of Dinesh Singh. “The stadium prohibits anybody to enter and play. 2005 was the last time when we got the prestigious Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad trophy as a university for sports which is a matter of shame for such a prestigious university,” she says.
Apart from this, VC Dinesh Singh has been alleged to have granted favors to people he is close to in the University of Delhi. DUTA has claimed that VC appointed his own acquaintances as election officers for University elections and also as the Officers on Special Duty as the Principal of the college which is against the laws.
Other allegations included reappointment of the principal of Ambedkar College, Dr. G.K Arora despite of the fact that he was held responsible for sexual harassment and mental/physical trauma of Smt. Pavitra, the lab assistant who committed suicide in front of the Delhi Secretariat.
DUTA also held VC responsible for permitting mining of Aravali Rock in the ARSD College, which is a government natural resource and the activity, is considered illegal.
There has been a history of teachers, mainly adhoc and other employees in the university who were dismissed. “All the people who tried to speak against him were removed.” Nandita Narain commented. Dinesh was held responsible for also denying the CBI its request to probe the University Officer who has been incriminated in the Shunglu Committee Report on the CWG scam.
“The University has a bleak future if the present VC continues. The University has become anti-students and anti-teachers. It is just pro the university authorities. This is sheer academic erosion. We appeal students and teachers to help us in our movement. We expect a visitorial inquiry soon”, said the DUTA president ending the conference.
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