It’s a strange case of missing principals. Top colleges in Delhi University, including Hindu, Hansraj and Kirori Mal, currently don’t have a regular principal and are being headed by either an acting principal or an officer on special duty (OSD).
Out of the 77 colleges under the university, close to 22 colleges don’t have a permanent principal.
At Hindu College, the post of principal has been vacant for at least four years, and is currently held by an acting principal. The college’s website shows that the last permanent principal held the post till 2008.
Apart from vacant principals’ posts, there are over 4,500 permanent teacher posts which need to be filled
At Hansraj College, the post has been held by an officiating principal for at least two years, and at Kirori Mal College there is an acting principal.
University teachers alleged that the situation is affecting decision-making at the college level. Teachers said that everyday decision-making as well as larger decisions regarding college administration are being impacted.
“Because an OSD or an acting principal is supposed to be there for a short-time, they depend on the vice-chancellor and the governing body of the college for all decisions,” said Suman, convener of DU SC/ST forum.
While vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh was not available for comment, university officials said that they have already advertised for applications for these vacant posts in order to appoint regular principals in all the colleges under the university.
Singh did not respond to calls and text messages from Mail Today.
“We are aware of the issue of vacant posts of principal. There are acting principals and OSDs. We have advertised and sought applications for the vacant posts. Very soon these posts will be filled up as the process has started,” said university’s media coordinator Malay Neerav.
Suman has written letters to the standing committee for SC/ST Welfare and the HRD minister, asking for implementation of reservation for SC/ST/OBCs for the posts of principals in colleges affiliated to the university.
“All routine matters in the university have come to standstill. There have been no promotions in the last 10 years. UGC 2010 regulations were not adopted by the university and that led to this situation,” said Abha Dev Habib, professor at Miranda House.
South Campus colleges, which do not have a permanent principal, include Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Gargi College, Dyal Singh College (Evening) and Lady Sri Ram.
At LSR and SRCC, the post has been lying vacant since the retirement of their principal last year.
Other colleges which are being run by temporary arrangements are Satyawati College (Morning), Shyamlal College, Mata Sundri College, Zakir Hussain College (Evening), Vivekananda College and PGDAV (Morning and Evening) and Aditi Mahavidyalaya College.
DU teachers said not only there is a need to fill up the posts of principals, but 4,500 posts of permanent teachers should also be filled up.
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