DU Maths Dept Scores Poor

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) The Mathematics Department of Delhi University has contributed to the research pool of the country only 5 Ph D scholars in the last decade.

Although 99 students were admitted for Ph D course of the Mathematics Department in Delhi University between April 30, 1996 and November 29, 2006, only 5 students were allowed to submit their theses.

The shocking performance of the Department came to light after a former DU research scholar -- MP Chaudhary -- invoked the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking details about the number of students of the Department allowed to submit their theses during the last 10 years.

Even as the salaries of the University Professors were hiked twice, if not thrice, during the past decade, their productivity came down to an alarming low.

Atul Rajdan, a faculty member, was arrested last month on charges of sexual harassment charges last month -- the incident stirred strong emotions within the Delhi University academia.

The Head of Department SC Arora has been accused of plagiarism by a Professor of Michigan University.

The indifference of the Professors to directing acedemic pursuit has also driven some students to the courts.

A research scholar hailing from Jordan, Mohammad Abdul Karim, won an intervention from the State Consumer Forum on March 8 last.

Enrolled in the early 1990s, he had earlier moved the District Consumer Forum to get his Ph D degree -- a final decision was yet awaited.

Unable to bear the academic inertia, Tara Verma, a student of the 1999 batch, also moved the consumer forum. and according to reports, more were contemplating moving the courts to secure their degrees.

Although the court had accepted their petitions, it was not yet clear as to how a consumer court could help the students get their degrees.

The object of their collective anger was Department head SC Arora.

MP Chaudhary told UNI: ''SC Arora has against his name more misdeeds than any credit....'' The Professors appeared to shake off their lethargy only when a ward of theirs was involved -- HoD Arora's relation Ruchika Batra was able to submit her Ph D thesis within less than 4 years of her enrolment raising many an eyebrow.

Enrolled in 2000, she got her Ph D in 2004. Chaudhary alleged that Ms Batra had no more qualification than being Arora's relation.

Repeated attempts to speak to Prof SC Arora failed.

UNI