Delhi University is preparing itself for the admissions to the academic session 2018-19. Ironically, the policy regarding admissions for the upcoming academic session is being framed by a committee of 10 members with no elected teacher representatives on board. Four are principals of DU colleges have been co-opted the committee as "special invitees" while three are varsity officials themselves.
Senior teachers and members of elected bodies, both Academic and Executive Councils, are apprehensive that if major policy decisions are taken by such a "non-representative" committee in which officials and principals enjoy majority then larger interest of student community may be 'overlooked' while making the admission rules.
There is a 'simmering discontent' among the members of 47 member "Admission Advisory Committee" earlier notified as "admission committee" but later assigned to act within advisory capacity by an another order. The same order also notified the formation of 10 member committee to frame guidelines for admissions.
Academic Council member, Hansraj Suman who is in the "Admission Advisory Committee" told The Pioneer that ignoring the view of elected representatives and other senior members and sidelining them by giving only advisory role, is really a setback to policy making. He alleged that this has been done fearing that plurality of view-points in a larger committee which may act as "roadblock" in decision making process.
He further said that any decision of the 10 member committee would be averse to the larger interest of aspirants will be turn down in elected bodies once it comes there for approval. Suman said that principals usually remain wedded to the official stance and will not object to anything against the official view-point while framing admission policy.
Another Academic Council member Dr Pankaj Garg said that faculties are being ignored while making the admission rules and precedents are not being followed.
"The proposals for any change in admission policy have to come from the faculty and centers. Each faculty has its own admission committee and proposal for any change in PG admission process should originate from the faculty," said Dr Garg, adding that every decision that will be against the interest of students would be opposed "tooth and nail".
Another member of "Admission Advisory Committee" said: "We are worried that the smaller admissions committee, in which mainly officials will have their say, will put forth their decisions in front of advisory committee and also AC and EC at the very eleventh hour. When admissions will be at door steps even the elected bodies will think twice in rejecting the decisions as a result many of them will stand passed," he said.
On the other hand the Registrar didn't responded to the calls while Deputy Registrar (Academic) by whom the aforementioned 10 member committee is officially notified said that he is not the right person to be contact regarding it.
With DU looking towards including major changes in its admission policy this year, making policies without wider consultation with all stakeholders including students may prove detrimental to the interest of lakhs of DU aspirants, said a senior teacher who is also Head of a Department at Science Faculty.