DU writes to govt: Awaiting your reply on names for 28 governing bodies

In a letter dated April 23 addressed to the Delhi government’s higher education department, the university joint registrar wrote that they were awaiting the government’s response over nominations to these bodies.

A day after the Delhi government said it would stop funds to 28 Delhi University (DU) colleges that have not formed governing bodies (GBs), varsity officials Thursday said they had begun the process of forming the bodies and had written to the government about the matter.

In a letter dated April 23 addressed to the Delhi government’s higher education department, the university joint registrar wrote that they were awaiting the government’s response over nominations to these bodies.

The letter read that the varsity had provided 188 names for the government’s consideration. “This is to inform that no response from your side (Delhi government) has been received by this office,” it read. “Therefore you are requested to send a panel of names for the governing bodies of 28 Delhi government colleges at the earliest.”

Of the total 15 members in a governing body, five are recommended by the government and five by the Delhi University.

The Delhi government has been at loggerheads with the DU over the formation of governing bodies in its colleges. Across DU colleges, the tenure of governing bodies, which take all decisions for smooth functioning of a college, including appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff, expired on March 8 this year.

DU, a central institute, has 63 colleges under its ambit, of which 28 are fully or partially funded by the state government.

Despite several attempts, Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia did not respond for a comment. A senior official at the government’s higher education department said, “The delay is because it comes in the middle of the ongoing election process. We are looking into this.”