HRD ministry asks DU to respond to teachers' allegations against VC

New Delhi: The Centre has asked Delhi University (DU) to submit a detailed response to allegations of irregularities in its functioning made by the varsity’s teachers’ body. Taking cognisance of a ‘white paper’ released by the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) alleging financial and administrative irregularities in the varsity’s functioning, the HRD ministry has directed DU to submit a point-by-point explanation on each issue raised in it. “I am directed to refer to the complaint received from DUTA against the vice chancellor regarding alleged anomalies and irregularities in the functioning of the university.[caption id=“attachment_1631899” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Delhi University. AFP[/caption] “It is requested that para-wise comments on each issue may be sent at the earliest,” senior human resource development ministry official PK Saha has said in the official communication to DU. DU authorities confirmed that the communication has been received and added that, “the university will send its reply soon”. DUTA had earlier this month released the ‘white paper’ alleging irregularities and violations of the Delhi University Act by its Vice Chancellor, Dinesh Singh. The white paper was sent to the varsity’s Visitor, which is the President of India Pranab Mukherjee, and appealed for a Visitorial Enquiry into all the charges, pending which, they demanded that the Vice Chancellor must be removed from office. It had also submitted copies of the white paper with the HRD ministry and the Central Vigilance Commission. DUTA has accused the VC of financial irregularities in key projects to the tune of Rs 200 crore and demanded the President’s intervention for constituting a probe into the matter. It has also questioned the VC’s action related to OBC grants meant for expansion of the teaching faculty and upgrade of infrastructure through the purchase of laptops for Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) students. The allegations against the VC come against the backdrop of the rollback of the controversial FYUP, which was started by Singh last year. FYUP was discontinued following pressure from UGC while the varsity’s registrar was moved out of DU last week. PTI