Soon, DU VC to be shown the doors? Modi govt serves show-cause notice to Dinesh Singh

New Delhi, Mar 19: If reports are to be believed then the endgame for Delhi University vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh has begun as show-cause notice has been served to him.

As per a TOI report, "Singh has been given 15 days to reply to the notice served on him on Tuesday and has been asked why he should not be removed from his post."

Highly placed ministry source was quoted as saying in the daily's report, "In case Singh does not reply to the show-cause notice, we will recommend the President to remove him. If he replies to the notice, natural justice demands that it be analyzed."

But his removal, sources said, is certain as all allegations against him have already been investigated and found to be correct.

Singh has been at the centre of controversy ever since the row over the four year undergraduate programme (FYUP) broke out, with HRD ministry under Smriti Irani directing him to roll back the programme in June last year as it had no approval from the President who is the visitor to central varsities.

University Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh could be in fresh trouble with the HRD ministry forwarding to the President a letter written by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury highlighting alleged irregularities by the VC in the varsity's functioning.

In his letter, Yechury has also mentioned about a 'white paper' released by Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) alleging grave illegalities, academic erosion and administrative breakdown due to abuse of office by the VC.

The VC, whose tenure ends in October this year, is also accused of having diverted funds to the tune of Rs 150 crore from funds meant for OBC students to purchase 62,600 laptops.

HRD ministry officials said that the Minister has forwarded Yechury's letter along with a host of other documents to Rashtrapati Bhavan in December last year but was yet to receive a response.

"We have received no communication from the President after the Ministry sent the documents to the President last month," said a senior HRD ministry official.

Sources however said the Rashtrapati Bhavan was closely monitoring the developments in Delhi University and was examining the charges against Singh.

What does the show cause notice say?

Among other things the notice seeks answer to these questions from Dinesh Singh, who is the first DU VC to be served a show-cause notice:

1. Why was Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) introduced without any clearances and career of thousands of students put in danger? (FYUP was scrapped last year after a lot of uproar).
2. Why was FYUP introduced and why it was done without following due process?
3. Why BTech courses were started by Delhi University(DU) without clearance from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) ?
4. Why was Rs 172 crore meant for OBC students in university departments and colleges used to buy laptops?
5. Why was OBC reservation not implemented in the faculty jobs?

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)