DU clears 3 teachers with warning

New Delhi: After debarring

three teachers

from

administrative duties

, the University of Delhi has decided to clear the teachers after a warning. The

debarment

came last year over a tussle between appointment of

pro vice-chancellors

and

registrars

by

two factions

in DU in a bid to take over administrative control.

On October 21, 2020, former

DU vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi

who was on leave for medical reasons appointed a new acting registrar, P C Jha, at an Executive Council (EC) meeting. However, P C Joshi — the pro vice-chancellor and acting vice-chancellor — found Jha’s appointment to be “illegal” and stated that since Tyagi was on leave, the appointment was not valid.

Joshi then held another EC meeting where Vikas Gupta was elected registrar by the council.

But in a twist, Tyagi as VC, removed Joshi as Pro VC and replaced him with Geeta Bhatt, also a member of the right-wing teachers’ group National Teachers’ Democratic Front (NDTF). However, both Jha and Bhatt were barred from entering the Viceregal Lodge —the VC’s office.

The university had then debarred Bhatt, Jha and another teacher Sunil Kumar during the administrative tussle. In an EC meeting on Thursday, DU removed the debarment and now allows the teachers the opportunity to take up administrative roles.

Balaram Pani, dean of colleges, stated that the EC has let them go with just a warning. “The teachers can now take up administrative posts,” Pani said.

However, Bhatt and Jha claimed that they are yet to receive any communication on this issue. “Pani said that it will be done once the minutes of the EC meeting are out.”