The University Grants Commission (UGC) has today warned 21 colleges accredited to Delhi University (DU) that it would hold back their grants if they do not appoint regular principals. On August 13, UGC issued a letter to all these colleges directing to expedite the appointment process which DU colleges have failed to meet. The institutes include top most colleges in Delhi, the Hindu College, Jesus and Mary College, Kamala Nehru College and Gargi College. Although few institutes have communicated about it to the UGC while others reportedly have not even started with the interviews. UGC Notifies that PhD Compulsory for Teachers or Assistant Professors At University and College Level. 

Prof. Rajnish Jain, Secretary, UGC told ANI, “Colleges have been asked to tell us the date when are they likely to hold interviews by August 31. We've received communication from a few colleges. One college said they've appointed principal, another said they're fixing the dates. Some said we're advertising the post.” Meanwhile, Hindustan Times reported that the Hindu College has been without a regular principal since 2012; whereas other colleges have had acting heads for eight years or more. UGC is responsible for maintaining the higher education standards in the country.

It is the Human Resource Development Ministry who had earlier directed the commission to take action against the colleges, which have not made the appointments despite instructions from the President’s office. The UGC Secretary Prof. Jain further said, “It's a very serious issue. We may withhold certain benefits if they do not do so (appoint a regular principal). It may be related to withholding of certain grants or funding which we're providing to our Delhi colleges.” UGC Issues Notice to Colleges to Ban the Sale of Unhealthy Food in Campuses. 

Meanwhile, the Hindu College’s governing body assured to complete the appointment process soon. The institute’s governing body chairman Satya Narain Prakash Punj was quoted in Hindustan Times, “We have called a meeting of the select committee on August 25 and we will make the recommendation about the principal on that day. We will send it to the Delhi University for approval.” If in case any of the DU colleges fail to act on UGC’s order, they might have to face severe repercussion or stop receiving funds, as confirmed by the commission.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2018 04:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).