L-G, Delhi Govt at loggerheads over DTU bids
A “rift” between the Delhi Government and Delhi Raj Niwas over the “authorisation” issue of the prestigious College of Arts, Delhi University, has taken a massive toll on the academic progress of the institution which enjoys a great reputation of being associated with several Padma awardees like BC Sanyal, who established the college, MF Hussain, OP Sharma and others over the years.
Now from earning a dubious distinction of not enrolling students for the academic session 2021-22, to getting into protracted tussle over the affiliation issues, the students, a section of academicians and other stakeholders have started a series protests inside and outside the college.
Lt Governor Anil Baijal has stepped in and put on hold the pressures by the Delhi Government’s Delhi Technical University to bring the College of Arts into their ambit under Ambedkar University from the umbrella of globally recognised University of Delhi.
College of Arts is a very special college located in Lutyens’ Delhi and was affiliated to DU’s Faculty of Music and Fine Arts in 1974. While Ambedkar University is a State Government university, the DU is a Central University and have been listed in several global rankings for the institutions.
In an attempt to halt the merger of College of Art with Ambedkar University, students have also launched an online petition to Baijal and DU Vice-Chancellor.
The petition by students has called the act by DTU “undemocratic and highly unethical” and stated that the students have the right to influence the process of decision-making.
A section of teaching and non-teaching staff, students and other stakeholders have accused the acting Principal of College of Arts, DU, Prof BS Chauhan of “orchestrating” the affiliation process to Ambedkar University for vested interest as he does not meet the requisite criteria to hold the position.
The college is without a regular Principal since 2012 and in this age of technology the institution has not upgraded/updated its website since 2017.
While the Delhi Government has appointed an OSD for the purpose to expedite the process of merger, Raj Niwas has said until there is a NoC (No Objection Certificate) issued for de-affiliation from DU the merger cannot happen. The Delhi University Executive Council and Delhi University Teachers’ Association have reiterated their stand not to approve the “exit” of College of Arts from DU without which technically the dreams of Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP Government would not be realised.
Delhi Cabinet last year in August approved the merger of College of Arts, functioning under the Directorate of Training and Technical Education, under the Directorate of Higher Education to be a part of Ambedkar University.
The Delhi University Executive Council has not approved the de-affiliation and opposed the move. The committee constituted in this regard said such unilateral decisions were not acceptable and, instead, they had asked the university to write a strong letter to the Government.
Director (Training and Placement), Directorate of Training and Technical Education (DTTE), Delhi Government, Dr Dipti Mal, said it is highly regrettable that the DU is delaying the matter of de-affiliation of the College of Arts.
“Already one full academic session has been at a loss and further delay in the matter will cause a great inconvenience to all the stakeholders like students, teaching and non-teaching staff etc., associated with such a reputed institution. Delhi government has been making all efforts to give better education the fields of fine arts and related subjects,” Dr Mal told The Pioneer.
He was last week appointed as an OSD to the College of Arts to bridge the gap between the institution, DU, and the GNCTD.
Members of DUEC, DUTA, and protesters from College of Arts and other stakeholders are to meet the Visitor of DU President Ram Nath Kovind, Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan after having already placed the facts before the AICTE. The college academics are governed by AICTE and not the UGC as is the case of the rest of DU colleges.