The University Grants Commission (UGC) warned 21 Delhi University colleges that unless they appointed regular principals for their respective institutes, their grants would be withheld.
The institutes in question include the famous Hindu College, Jesus and Mary College, Kamala Nehru College and Gargi College, The Hindustan Times reports.
Most of these colleges have had “acting heads” instead of principals for eight years or more. The last time The Hindu college had a regular principal was back in 2012, the report adds.
UGC officials told the newspaper that the UGC’s threat would weigh quite heavy on these colleges, as they rely greatly on the funds provided by the body for their everyday functioning.
The UGC first wrote a letter addressing the colleges and the DU registrar on 13 August, asking them to expedite the appointment process.
It is once again requested to expedite the process of the selection of a full-time regular (principal) in your college. Further, you are hereby requested to inform the date of interview for the post of principals latest by 31 August 2018, failing which the UGC will be constrained to withhold the release of grants.The letter read, as reported by Hindustan Times
The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry had earlier directed the UGC to take action against the colleges in question, as they had ignored instructions from the President’s office to appoint the principals, despite repeated warnings, the report adds.
“...In most of the colleges, interviews have not been held even at the level of the respective governing bodies. This shows a lack of commitment on the part of college authorities for strengthening the administrative and academic atmosphere in their colleges,” the letter further reads, reports Hindustan Times.
While The Hindu College and other mentioned colleges stated that it had already begun the appointment process, another HRD official told the newspaper that the HRD Ministry and the colleges had initially agreed to complete the whole process by 15 July.
Speaking to ANI, UGC Secretary, Professor Rajnish Jain, said that the respective colleges were asked by the UGC to share information regarding the date – 31 August –by which they would hold interviews to fill up the post of principal.
“We've received communication from a few colleges. One college said they've appointed principal, another said they're fixing the dates. Some said we're advertising the post,” he said, reports ANI.
“It's a very serious issue. We may withhold certain benefits if they do not do so (appoint a regular principal). It may be related to withholding of certain grants or funding which we're providing to our Delhi colleges,” he added.
(With inputs from ANI and Hindustan Times)
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