Delhi University’s Executive Council set up a probe into St. Stephen’s College for violating faculty recruitment rules, while also approving SWAYAM credits, BA restructuring, a semester abroad programme, and a ₹174-crore infrastructure project.
Delhi University’s Executive Council (EC), chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Yogesh Singh, held a significant meeting on Wednesday where a range of academic and other administrative matters the most notable being allegations of recruitment norm violations at St. Stephen’s College were discussed.
The Executive Council took serious cognisance of the alleged violation of shortlisting criteria by St. Stephen’s College during the direct recruitment of assistant professors across various disciplines.
Members in the meeting pointed out that the college had been following a criterion of shortlisting 70 candidates for each unreserved vacancy. However, the Academic Council and Executive Council of Delhi University had already approved a standard fixed norm of 40 candidates for the first vacancy and 20 candidates for each subsequent vacancy.
As a result, the Council decided to restrain the college from issuing appointment letters to the recommended candidates. The decision was formally communicated to the Principal of St. Stephen’s College by the Registrar of Delhi University through an official letter.
The committee constituted by the EC to investigate the issue will be chaired by Prof. Inder Mohan Kapahi, a Chancellor’s nominee in the Executive Council. Other members include EC members Aman Kumar, Dr. Monica Arora, and Dr. L.S. Chaudhary. The Joint Registrar (Colleges) has been appointed as the Member Secretary of the committee.
This is not the first time St. Stephen’s, one of DU’s most prestigious colleges has been under the spotlight over governance and administration mismatch with the university.
In another key decision, the Executive Council approved a proposal to allow students to earn up to 5 percent of their total academic credits through online courses offered on SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) and other approved MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) platforms. Under the scheme, students in four-year undergraduate programmes can earn up to 8 credits, while those in two-year postgraduate courses can earn up to 4 credits.
It is also important to note that UGC regulations from 2016 had originally permitted students to earn up to 20 percent of their credits through SWAYAM. The framework was adopted by the university in 2019, but a suggestion in 2025 to re-examine the matter led to the formation of a committee, whose recommendations have now been implemented.
However, everyone did not agree. Some Executive Council members submitted a dissent note, arguing that these regulations, in the name of “choice” and “flexibility,” take away the important role of teachers and universities.
The EC also backed BA Programme restructuring for the 2026–27 session, allowing colleges to re-examine low-demand subjects without introducing or discontinuing programmes. Colleges can also group certain subjects under a single programme combination but cannot change their total approved intake capacity.
Delhi University also constituted a committee to examine the proposal for launching “Semester Away Programme” (SAP) in collaboration with foreign higher education institutions. This committee, chaired by DU Dean Prof. Balram Pani, will submit its report after consulting relevant stakeholders. Under the SAP, students may complete one semester of their degree at a foreign university.
The Executive Council also approved the construction of a new building for the Institute of Nano Medical Sciences at Maurice Nagar at a cost of Rs 174.20 crore. The detailed project report will be prepared by the Central Public Works Department.
The council also cleared the establishment of a Centre for Advanced Studies in Buddhist Studies, with the first phase already approved under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram scheme.
The EC meeting reflects an active and hectic period for Delhi University as it tries to balance academic reforms, infrastructure expansion, and governance challenges with the St. Stephen’s issue likely to remain a contentious matter in the weeks ahead.
Arshia Sharma
Image Source – Telegraph India
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