Many of the top colleges of Delhi University are operating without principals. Over twenty colleges without principals show the state of the administrative department of the colleges. These include prestigious colleges like Hindu, Gargi, Kamla Nehru College, Jesus and Mary College, Maitreyi, Aurobindo College, Moti Lal College and others.
Officials have reported that some of the colleges may face severe action for not appointing regular principals. The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to initiate action against all the colleges who have not made the appointments despite instructions from the President’s office.
The President’s office had earlier expressed concerns regarding the colleges being run by acting heads for years. Some colleges have been without a permanent principal for the past eight years or more. These colleges have still not taken steps to appoint principals.
A senior HRD officer reported that “The government has been emphasising the need for filling up posts of principals in 21 Delhi University colleges in the interest of academic progress. But despite giving several deadlines they have not taken any concrete action. Since these are all grant in aid colleges, government expects better administration. We have asked the UGC to initiate action and submit a report in this regard.” No comments have been made yet by the DU Vice Chancellor and Registrar.
Hindu College, for instance, doesn’t have a regular principal since 2012. A meeting was held in June last week at the Rashtrapati Bhawan to discuss the appointment of principals in Delhi University colleges.
The meeting was attended by the vice-chancellor of Delhi University, UGC chairman and senior HRD officials. The colleges were given a deadline of July 15 to appoint the principals. Though promises were made by the colleges, status reports show that no action has been taken to appoint new principals.
