The Delhi University has refrained from intervening in the ongoing tussle between Hindu College principal and its chairman over the continuation of admissions under the extracurricular activities (ECA) quota. The university has desisted from issuing any clear cut instruction to the college despite the principal’s repeated letters seeking DU’s intervention. However, sources have said that the university may send a letter in a day’s time asking the college to follow the university norms and take admissions for ECA.
The chairman of the college, SPN Punj had earlier asked the principal Pradumn Kumar to stop conducting admissions under ECA. However, the university had then strictly asked the college to go by the book and conduct admissions. Now, that the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) has been rolled back, the chairman has again ordered the principal to stop the admissions under the quota. “Since earlier we were bound by the FYUP rules, we couldn’t discontinue this quota. But now we can. I have already instructed the principal and there is no reconsideration on this decision. Colleges like Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), IP College for Women and St Stephen’s College also don’t have ECA quota,” said Punj. The principal of the college, Pradumn Kumar, however, supported the ECA quota saying, “The quota gives a lot of students the opportunity to get admission in the college. However, I cannot disobey the chairman’s orders unless the university intervenes.”
Hindu College is known for its 25 societies that bring the maximum funds to the college. Thus, scrapping the ECA quota in a college that focuses on ECA so much is shocking. However, Punj said that ECA admissions don’t rule the college’s societies. “The students who come in through the general category are also very talented. They are the ones who usually take part in the societies and do well. We don’t have to rely on ECA for this,” he added. Meanwhile, a source in the university said that a letter will soon be sent to the college for the same. “If their prospectus has printed that ECA admissions will take place, the college has to abide by it,” said the source.