In This Issue
DUTA Sleeps Even as Colleges Vandalise
553
FORTNIGHTLY
New Delhi; Vol XXV, No 14
Just 2 months before he was to retire at 60 years
M D Tewari Got His Age Reduced
Court gave him this ‘relief’ after 22 years, but could UGC entertain?
Special to UT
I F you are powerful and have contacts at
the right places, retirement blues need
not affect you. Not in the case of Dr M D
Tewari, presently Director of Indian
Institute of Information Technology,
Allahabad (a deemed university) who got
his date of birth changed from 16 August
1944 to 1948 to be able get 4 more years
of job and other benefits in the UGC.
Dr Tewari who was formerly with the
UGC and is currently said to be a hot
favourite for Vice-Chancellor of
Allahabad University which is now a
Central University where a VC, the first
one after being declared a Central
University, is to be appointed by the HRD
Minister. Yes, the first VC, the first
Registrar and the first FO of Allahabad
University will now be appointed by the
HRD Minister and then onwards it will be
the Visitor’s prerogative. The Search
Committee — comprising of Justice V M
Khare, Mr P D Tandon (a journalist) and
Prof Mushirul Hasan (VC of Jamia Millia
Islamia) — meeting for Allahabad
Impending crisis in Motial Nehru College, New Delhi
Staff Association Declares DU Pol Sc
Professor Persona Non Grata
“Dr Panda had no
business to be on
the Selection
Committee”
Special to UT
UNIMAGINABLE things are happening
in various colleges of Delhi University
these days. Motilal Nehru College is an
addition. In a recent development, two
teachers of Political Science have been
rejected for senior-scale which,
heretofore, has been more or less a
routine. And going by the Staff
Association of the College, the so-called
selection or, more appropriately,
15 JULY 2005
University has been preponed by 2 days
and instead of 20 July it will now meet on
18 July perhaps to give its okay to
Tewari’s appointment as VC if the rumour
mill is believed. Total lack of
transparency is the hallmark of
Vice-Chancellors’ appointment in most
universities of India and Allahabad
promises to be no different. Anyway this
is not the place to raise this question.
Joshi-man now converted?
Why MHRD in DU V-C Choice?
AStatutes
KNOWLEDGEABLE source has pointed out that according to the Act and
of the University of Delhi, the Minister of Human Rights
Development (MHRD) has no role whatsoever. The file should go straight from
Visitor’s Cell in the Ministry to the Visitor (President of India) without any
intervention from the Minister.
The present vacuum in Delhi University which is doing without a
Vice-Chancellor since the departure of Deepak Nayyar on 15 May last is
partially attributable to this wrong routing of files too.
rejection is a result of a “sham” interview
and a wholly orchestrated show.
Whatever the truth, it will not be a surprise
that the entire process has been vitiated
by various extraneous factors and the
way the so-called “interview” for
promotion to senior-scale was
conducted.
The aforementioned ‘interview’ of
the two teachers, namely, Dr Narendra
Kumar and Mr Pawan Sinha, held on 5
July last under the shadow of a
thoroughly mistrusting staff and an
overpowering Chairperson of the
governing body.
The news of rejection of the two
teachers for senior scale on
extra-academic considerations
angered the teachers of the College no
end and they held an emergency
meeting of the extended executive
DU — Edit
MPATU VC Gets Into Trouble With Student
Leaders
Dress Code for Girl Students in Colleges?
The Great Petroleum Price Debate is
Spurious at Best
Though known to be a man of Dr Murli
Manohar Joshi — the BJP stalwart
and the former Minister HRD — at the
time Dr M D Tewari got appointed
initially as OSD and later as Director of
IIIT, Allahabad, where he is currently
having his 2nd term, he is now said to
be close to Mr Rahul Gandhi who is the
rising star of Indian politics in UP.
Reports have it that Dr Tewari is out to
create a new Centre in the name of late
Rajiv Gandhi with a funding of almost
committee of the Staff Association on
8 July last to adopt two resolutions
which can be said to be a wholesale
condemnation of an interview which
was anything but that — interview.
A few things are worth noticing in
the whole thing which convert the
interview into a sham and a wholly
questionable exercise.
One of the candidates, Dr Narendra
Kumar, is from SC category. But, on
the side of merit, he completed his
PhD from JNU within 3 years of
joining, published 7 research papers,
one book and much more. All of
t h es e wo u l d h a ve em i n en t l y
q u al i f i e d h i m f o r t h e p o st o f
Professor anywhere but the selection
committee, wholly contrived, would
none of it. They had an agenda to
> Contd on P 4 Col 1
Rs 2.50
Rs 36 crores in or around Amethi. From
a BJP-man to Congress person it has
been an interesting yatra for Tewari but
more of that later.
Dr Tewari wrote to UGC on 15 April
2004, months before he was to retire at
the age of 60 years in August 2004 that
his date of birth be changed from
16.8.1944 to 16.8.1948. To cap it, Tewari
wrote in the same letter (of 15 April 2004)
that he be allowed to retire prematurely
from 31.8.2004. In other words, he first
requested to reduce his age by 4 years
and then sought pre-mature retirement
because of his current job as Director of
IIIT, Allahabad. The interesting bit is that
the UGC obliged after some initial
hiccups despite the clear laid down rule
of the Government that any application
for change of date of birth cannot be
entertained when one is on the verge of
retirement etc. The UGC perhaps did it
on account of a favourable verdict from
Allahabad High Court for Dr Tewari. But
some questions do arise:
Di d M S Tew ar i i n f o rm h i s
employer(s), the UGC and before
> Contd on P 5 Col 1
AAD List for
V-C of DU
IT(Academics
is reliably learnt that the AAD
for Action &
Development), popularly called
‘Rathi Group’ in Delhi University has
submitted a list of proposed VCs
before the next meeting of the
Search Committee meeting likely to
be held after the return of Prof
Romila Thapar from abroad ie after
16 August. Rathi met Sonia Gandhi
and demanded that the following be
considered for VC of Delhi
University: Prof P B Sharma,
presently Principal of Delhi College
of Engineering, Prof Moolchand
Sharma who wrote biography of
Justice P N Bhagwati (who is the
Chairman of the Search Committee),
and Prof T K V Subramaniam who
was once “removed” as
Member-Secretary of the ICHR. Well,
there is no way to verify this bit of
‘news’.
 UNIVERSITYTODAY
2 EDIT PAGE 15 JULY 2005

Editorial

DUTA Sleeps Even as Colleges Vandalise DU

I Tongoing
is a surprise that the ever-alert DUTA has failed to wake up to the
wholesale vandalisation of the University of Delhi and its
colleges by unscrupulous, money-hungry Principals and their
collaborators, including governing bodies, who constitute the body
main of the ‘establishment’. Apart from the fact that the Principals
have been allowed the personal liberty to levy all sorts of fees in the
name of improving the infrastructure as a sham but mainly to keep
them and their biradari in good comfort like air-conditioners, water
dispensers, et al, and such other luxuries which were unthinkable just
5 years ago and which ill-fit institutions of academic description.
The latest in the series of indiscretions is the formal, quasi-legal
“ permission” (read license) granted to a private college of
questionable credentials, Wigan & Leigh, supposedly of origin and
base in the UK, to run shop from these colleges. While we, at the UT
thought that Shaheed Bhagat Singh College headed by Dr (Ms)
Jitinder Kaur was ‘unique’ in having single-handedly allowed the
aforementioned Wigan & Leigh ‘college’ (a college within a college,
how does it sound?) it now transpires that Bhagat Singh College is
in good company. Even the more famous and established institutions
like I P College have allowed this facility to the foreign establishment!
And, according to reports, two more Principals, Dr A S Reddy of Sri
Venkateswara College and Dr Bhimsen Singh of Kirorimal College
(wasn’t Bhimsen Singh the first to introduce air-conditioner
‘revolution’ in his College)?, are also planning to do the same. If true,
in times to come, this arrangement will change the very complexion
of the University of Delhi. Whereas the Principals, in their effort to
break free of the University, will have more ‘autonomy’, more access
to money and funds, more perks and more ‘status’ (the power to harm
others is called ‘status’ in India) but the University will never the same
again. It is a wonder that so far not one organisation, group or a
teacher has moved the court on this sensitive issue which promises
to snowball with other, and more greedy Principals, likely to reap the
rich harvest of privatisation through backdoor.
There are many angles to the whole thing. By allowing the Wigan
& Leigh to operate from their premises the colleges have violated the
conditions of land leased out to colleges by the DDA. After all there
is a difference between running a philanthropic body on a token fee
and a monolith like Wigan & Leigh operating wholly for profit. How
can the present Principals parcel away a part of the land given out to
colleges on lease such that the new party to the lease (Wigan & Leigh)
does not even enter into the records of the DDA and bind all future
Principals too in the bargain?
The entire exercise lacks transparency. There definitely could
have been some yeh andar ki baat hai. There was no public
announcement of intents to allow a foreign based institution to
operate in the premises of colleges of a prestigious University. Why
were other ‘aspirants’, and there could be many if an open
announcement was made, kept out of the entire exercise? Big money
app arently c hang ed hand s. There m ay have been ot her
considerations too in the whole exercise. And to think that there is
not even a whimper from the University of Delhi, the parent body, who
is supposed to keep such forays of the Principals in check and they
have the good offices of a whole rule book called ‘Governance of
Colleges’ etc. Could it be that the University has been directed to keep
the whole thing under wraps and the Government of some organs in
the Government are interested that private foreign institutions enter
India through these backdoors? All this and more calls for a fair and
detailed inquiry.
The exercise looks very simple and innocent on the face but,
investigated properly, it may yield a mine of information and idea(s)
on how the game is played. For example, in the case of Dr (Ms)
Jitinder Kaur, whose who know claim that it is simply to avoid the
charge that the Principal’s bungalow, kept vacant all these years just
to collect a fat HRA, has resulted in loss to exchequer. This though is
different matter that the appointment letter of Jitinder Kaur stated in
no uncertain terms that she would have to move to the official
residence provided on the campus. Now that the Principal’s
residence has been given away (sub-leased) to Wigan & Leigh there
is a ready made excuse: that there is no wastage of public utility.
Witness how they avoid if the contacts and GB are right!

Reader’s Voice
Inaccessible Education; Shivaji College Principal ‘embezzled’ money
Counterpoint by Prof S B Lall is an eye
opener. There has been a rat race of Shivaji College
MoU with the foreign universities in
Higher Education. Of course, our
politicians are busy counting the
dividends they will receive in exchange of
such MoU(s). As a matter of fact they are
living in Ivory towers. Competitions is
okay but the sale of the whole system of
higher education to the foreign
universities will deprive the 60% poor
people of the country. You can’t thrust
upon them the concept of private
universities or colleges in a huff.
Education has been inaccessible to the
65% of the total population of India. They
are the people that can’t even pay yearly
fee of Rs 2,000. On the other hand the
governments of the centre and states
have stopped increasing the staff thus
hampering the process of quality
education. We need not waste time on
MoU(s) or self-financed
institutions/universities if we are serious
to cater to the need of higher education
to all. Perhaps politicians are scared of a
revolution against them if the mass get
better educated and well-informed of
their evil deeds? Hah, ha, ha!
(Dr) L P JOSHI
Principal
Arts, Commerce & Science College
Borsad (Gujarat)
e-mail: l p_joshi@yahoo.com
27 years of UT did not
impress ‘them’.
What will?
Development Fund, the Principal started
this work and spent the aforementioned
Principal Charged of
Embezzlement
[Copy of the letter dated 9 May 2005
to the Minister of HRD, Government of
India]
T his is to submit for your kind
information and action that the
Principal (Shivaji College) spent a huge
amount of about Rs 35,00,000 (Rs 35
lakhs) out of College Development Fund
for repair/renovation/addition/alteration
of the Principal’s residence, staff quarters
and college office without prior approval
of the Governing Body whereas this
amount had to be spend on students’
welfare, garden of the College and sports
activities as per the University norms
(copy of the UGC norms attached).
In the meeting of the Building
Committee dated 18 October 2003 which
was held under the chairmanship of Dr S
C Vats, the Principal placed this issue.
The members unanimously decided to
place this case before the Governing
Body for its consideration.
In the meeting of the Governing
Body held on 14-12-2003, it was decided
to form a Development Committee for
making expenditure for this purposes out
of Development Fund. The Governing
Body unanimously decided to form a
Development Committee first and then in
case of positive recommendations, start
the work of addition/alteration etc under
UGC norms. Instead of forming a
Development Committee and getting
positive recommendation and
permission of the Governing Body for
starting the said work out of
businesses cater to. Bombing Edgware
Rd tube station, which is right in the
amount in an illegal and unauthorised middle of this Arab enclave, amounts to
manner. targetting the Arab population of London
Even then the Principal pressurised
the SO (Accounts) (copy enclosed) for
in one of its most visible manifestations.
If none of them were killed or injured in
making the necessary payment from out this incident that would be a miracle.
of Development Fund and accordingly (2) Aldgate, another of the tube
the above amount was paid by the stations targetted, is only a few hundred
Principal in an illegal and unauthorised
manner.
yards outside George Galloway’s
constituency, Bethnal Green and Bow,
It is therefore requested to enquire and also only a stone’s throw from the
into the matter at your earliest taking into main East London Mosque.
consideration the over-all interest of the Again, I have no doubt that this
College. station is heavily used by London’s
VIRENDRA SINGH Muslims.
Secretary UK_Left_Network@yahoogroups.com
Delhi University & College 08 July 2005 03:01 PM
Karamchari Union
Unit Shivaji College
Raja Garden
Express yourself in
New Delhi 110027 this column. Say
Interesting Facts! things that you want
[Posted on internet by someone]
From: "glparramatta"
to. We, at UT, await
glparramatta@greenleft.org.au your letters eagerly.
To:
GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups. However, we
com
Some interesting facts from a post request that letters
at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UK_Lef
be short and to the
t_Network/message/61722 point. But do write
I t is worth noting that (1) Edgware Road,
one of the tube stations bombed, is in even if you don’t
one of the most heavily Arab-populated
like something
areas of London. Walk up Edgware Road,
and you will find numerous Arab carried in the
restaurants and shops, and an Arab
population living there which these columns of UT
UNIVERSITYTODAY
15 JULY 2005
Alleged Molestation of Girl Student Takes
Astonishing Turn in Sukhadia University, Udaipur
From our Udaipur correspondent
THE ding-dong battle between the
Vice-Chancellor of Mohanlal
Sukhadia University, Udaipur and Prof
Kamal Kapoor has now reached a
crescendo (read denouement).
Following representation to the
Chancellor (Governor) Mrs Pratibha Patil
personally by Kapoor things have
become a bit uncomfortable for the VC
who is believed to have been directed to
act as per rules. As a follow-up of reply to
the notice issued by the Registrar,
Kapoor volunteered to meet the VC.
However, the VC played his own game.
Instead of meeting Kapoor on one to one
basis, he was asked to appear before a
committee consisting of Dr Vijai Laxmi
Chouhan, Dr D K Bhatt (presently Dean,
College of Science) and Mr Kailash
Behari Vajpayee believed to be a BJP
loyalist and confidant of the VC. Dr Bhatt
opted out in view of the reports that his
own credentials are doubtful in view of
the panther skin and nail enquiry against
him and the complaint of his own PhD
students to ICMR and CSIR. The findings
of these enquiries are damaging as the
former reportedly contains extremely
adverse statements against Bhatt by his
PhD supervisor, his senior teachers in the
department and younger colleagues.
Even Kapoor in his personal interview
with the Chancellor has reportedly cited
the case of Bhatt, Mehta and Shrimali
who have been actively protected by
polarised teacher leaders and even the
Vice-Chancellor.
The Chancellor asked Mr Prem
Professional colleges in Maharashtra
Admission Blues Once Again
by Vrijendra, from Mumbai
I T is that time of the year. As the
admission process to professional
colleges begins in the state, there is a
sense of deja vu. It is all so familiar and
repetitive. It is as if the authorities that be
refuse to learn.
Though admissions to professional
colleges are expected to be governed by
students’ score in the Common Entrance
Test (CET), trust the private
managements to find innovative ways to
escape such restrictions.
Several engineering colleges are
asking students to apply for admission
through the management quota seats on
the basis of their marks in Physics,
Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) in
HSC without bothering about the CET
scores when the process begins next
month. Students are wondering why
CET scores are not relevant for
management seats when they are
relevant everywhere else including in
autonomous institutions like VJTI and
UICT, both in Mumbai. However, the
director of technical education defended
the practice saying that it gives another
opportunity to students who missed out
on CET.
Actually, the state is trying to do
away with the CET because the number
of seats available is more than the
number of students seeking admission
to these colleges. The state has, in fact,
filed a petition in the Supreme Court
seeking to abolish the CET. The petition
is pending in the court. Meanwhile the
state is forced to conduct the CET in
REGIONAL NEWSFILE
Bisaria, father of Ms Shilpi Bisaria, to see
her in Jaipur. While the details of this are
only scanctily available, sources in the
University have indicated that Prem
Bisaria was briefed by the VC and his
kitchen cabinet to say things about
Kapoor that would strengthen the
University’s course of future action which
would mean dismissal of Kapoor.
Kapoor, on the other hand, is
convinced that nothing can go wrong
against him as he has not done anything
that can be construed as wrongdoing. He
is all set to fight his battle in the High
Court. A perusal of information collated
from different sources close to the VC,
Dean Student Welfare, members of BoM,
Dr Ramawat — former HoD Botany,
students who went in tour, etc, indicates
that this WWF type of wrestling between
the present VC and Kapoor is actually a
continuation of personal feuds from their
student days when Chaudhry was a
student of MSc (Final) Botany and
Kapoor was in MSc (Previous). Kapoor
has a first class career from school to
university and has been consistently
dong well in teaching and research much
to the annoyance of Chaudhry and his
supporters.
It is said that the former VC, Dr A K
Singh (Congress loyalist and protege) in
whose time this drama was enacted did
nothing to resolve the issue but left it to
his successor. He reportedly told some
people that this was an example of
efficient micromanagement! Choudhry
is carrying the yoke of this sordid drama.
Rather than resolve it by calling all the
stake-holders together, he has now made
it a prestige issue.
keeping with the Supreme Court
guidelines. Students claim colleges are
taking advantage of the situation by
hurriedly trying to collect application for
management quota seats.
The online centralised process,
based on CET scores, will begin on 5 July
and continue till 12 July 2005. The seats
left vacant after that will be filled by the
institutes themselves on the basis of CET
marks.
Frozen
Inprivate
the meanwhile, admissions to the 129
medical colleges in the state
have been frozen by the Association of
Managements of Unaided Private
Medical and Dental Colleges in the state.
They are protesting against the fees fixed
by the state appointed fees committee.
The association claims that ‘we would
rather close down institutes than run
them on a loss.’
It should be recalled that some time
back these colleges were allowed to fill
half the seats on payment and half the
seats on merit at much lower fees (known
as free seats). Last year the Supreme
Court abolished the system of differential
fees and ordered that all students would
pay the same fees and half the seats
would be in the management quota.
Though in the new system, the average
fees have already been raised, the
college managements are not happy and
want much higher fees to be fixed.
The Minister of Medical Education,
Dilip Patil says he is helpless. The fee
committee works under the directives of
the Bombay High Court and the
aggrieved parents should approach the
High Court for any relief.
Some further facts of this episode
are very interesting. The alleged incident
is believed to have occurred in some city
of South India. An FIR could been filed
there. After completion of the tour an
anonymous unsigned complaint was
filed with Dean of College of Science —
Choudhry (now VC) who promptly
started acting. The then Head of Botany,
K G Ramawat, completed the file against
Kapoor by reportedly issuing
letters/notices in back date allegedly at
the behest of Dean, College of Science.
Dr Vijailakshmi Chouhan, Director,
Women Study Centre, was specially
deputed to visit the residence of Ms Shilpi
Bisaria and her statement is believed to
be videographed. This has, however, not
been made an exhibit. Even the enquiry
officer, Mr Garg, did not allow Kapoor to
read the hard copy of the statement. So,
what exactly are the charges? What
happened between Shilpi and Kapoor?
Why did her father not react then? Why
an FIR was not lodged at Udaipur? Shilpi
was not a student of Botany and thus had
no business to accompany the tour. Even
her father was not allowed initially.
Mr Garg, the enquiry officer who
spent quite some time, ended up stating
that it seems “something had
happened”! What is this “something”?
The triviality of all this prompts one to
ask: does the VC of a University spend so
much of his time and energy to chase a
mirage in the hope that he can now settle
the long pending score with Kapoor?
Sensationalism does raise the curiosity
level howsoever absurd if might be.
If the VC and the University is
convinced that it has enough legally
A ploy
OnAssociation
the other
of
hand, Parents’
Medical Students
(PAMS) has alleged that the freeze on
admission is a ploy by the private
colleges to keep seat free till 30
September, the Supreme Court deadline
for completing admissions. Then these
seats will be offered to students on
payment of hefty amounts. The delay in
admission process would give students
less time to go from college to college —
admissions to management quota seats
are decentralised and students have to
apply separately to each college — many
seats would remain free and would be
available to students with deep pockets,
PAMS alleged.
Meanwhile the medical education
department has claimed it is yet to
receive any communication from private
medical colleges about freezing
admissions. Also, ‘no medical college
can be closed without prior state
government permission. The request for
closure has to be made at least one year
in advance,’ said the department in a
press release.
“Every man who
expresses an
honest thought is a
soldier in the army
of intellectual
3
tenable evidence against Kapoor then it
should go ahead with surgical precision
to end this huge drama. It should also
prepare for similar action with similar
dispatch against Bhatt, Mehta and
Shrimali. For Kapoor it is a matter of
protecting his self-respect, dignity and
honour and also to remain in office. It is
a shame that the Chancellor has been
asked to resolve this. Does the University
lack the wisdom and power to take action
which it deems fit?
In the meantime, Kapoor awaits the
verdict of the VC as he is all set to take
the matter to the court. UT will keep a
keen eye on this bizarre episode. Nothing
of this kind has ever happened in the
State Universities of Rajasthan from
1960s to 2000. Perhaps incidents of this
kind in this millennium may be a pointer
of the shape of things to come in future.
Former KUTA
Chief Files
Defamation
Against 5
Teachers
From our Kurukshetra correspondent
INa aformer
development bordering on bizarre,
President of Kurukshetra
University Teachers Association (KUTA),
Dr Pradeep Chauhan, has filed a
defamation case against 5 teachers, viz,
Dr Dinesh Kumar Agarwal, Reader in
Electronics, Dr D R Darolia, Reader in
Psychology, Mr Prem Kumar, Lecturer in
Sociology, Dr S S Teotia, Reader in Earth
Sciences, Dr Sanjeev Gupta, Lecturer in
Zoology, and Dr R S Yadav, Professor in
Political Science at Kurukshetra
University (KUK).
Dr Pradeep Chauhan has stated in
his petition before the magistrate
concerned that the aforementioned
teachers of KUK have circulated
handbills, pamphlets and press
statements leveling false and frivolous
charges against him. The handbills,
pamphlets and press statements, avers
Dr Pradeep Chauhan, were addressed to
KU alleging malfunctioning of KUTA
during 2002-04. They have also alleged
in the handbills, pamphlets and press
statements that the bank account of
KUTA was operated in an illegal manner
and that there was allegedly a fraud of Rs
16,000 in membership fee. All of these
charges are now under active
examination of the magistrate
concerned.
In his complaint, Dr Chauhan has
stated that these persons conspired with
a common objective to defame him. He
also alleged that due to circulation of
these handbills, pamphlets and press
statements, etc, his image has been
lowered down among his colleagues,
friends, teachers, students, relatives,
neighbours and political circle.
The complaint was filed before Mr
Virender Malik, JMIC (then), After hearing
the counsel of Dr Pradeep Chauhan, the
court of Mr Amarjit Singh, JMIC,
Kurukshetra has issued summons to all
the accused u/s 500 of IPC for 12 July
2005 quoting reference of the judgment
of Supreme Court reported in 2000(2)
RCR-421. Results of the complaint will be
watched with interest in university circles
because this can have larger implications
for people who indulge in this sort of
actvities with or without intentions..

4 REGIONAL NEWSFILE
MPATU VC Gets Into Trouble With Student Leaders
Even the suicide by former VC’s son has not changed things much
From our Udaipur correspondent
THE Vice-Chancellor of MPATU
(Maharana Pratap Agriculture &
Technical University, Udaipur, Dr S L
Mehta, who is a known protege of the
Home Minister of Rajasthan and is also
younger brother of the former Chief
Secretary is once again in serious
difficulty with student leaders of ABVP.
They are demanding his dismissal. The
matter relates to recruitment of teachers.
The VC has secured permission from the
Government to fill vacant posts. He
thinks that the entire procedure is
transparent and is in accordance with
ICAR norms and procedures. The student
leaders of ABVP think otherwise. They
staged a violent demonstration in front of
the palatial residence of the VC and later
submitted a memorandum to the district
collector of Udaipur against Mehta for
onward transmission to the Chancellor.
The VC has alleged that some
student leaders of MPATU forcefully
entered his residence and indulged in
acts of arson. Mr Kuldip Singh Udawat,
President of ABVP unit of the University,
has declared these charges as false and
baseless. He had stated that there was a
strong contingent of police protecting the
Vice- Chancellor’s residence and it was
impossible to imagine that such a thing
could have happened. Student leaders of
S Mukherjee Declared Persona Non Grata
> From P 1 Col 3
complete ie to teach him a lesson
and they succeed. The reason? Dr
Na re n d ra Ku m a r i s p re sen t l y
Secretary of the Staff Association of
Motilal Nehru College and he earned
the Principal’s and Chairman’s wrath
because of unpalatable stand he
took over various issues during the
last 10 months of his tenure.
Dr K K Panda, a former Registrar of
the University of Delhi, and presently
a Lecturer in Political Science at
Mo t i l a l N eh r u Co l l eg e i s o n
re -e m p l o y m en t . As t h e ve ry
nomenclature indicates, Dr Panda is
on “re-employment” which is not a
regular employment. He “retired” in
June 2004 and was re- employed. He
is not a permanent employee of the
College. Yet, he was invited to sit on
t h e s el ec t i o n c o m m i t t e e f o r
senior-scale to his two colleagues.
And he did the dirty job on behalf of
the “ boss”. He became an active
party to the rejection forgetting that
he was talking of colleagues and
about freshers.
The “expert” Prof Subrata Mukherjee
is reported to have observed to one
of the two candidates, Mr Pawan
Sinha: “Is there no university in this
country except JNU?” The context
was as to where was he proposing to
register himself for PhD degree and
as to why he did not consider joining
PhD programme.
The other, and more qualified of the
two candidates, Dr Narendra Kumar,
was asked questions more on his
fu nc ti on in g as Sec retary , Staff
Association, than in his discipline
and told to engage himself more in
academic than in Associationbaji, If
true, it is ind eed a slur on the
so-called “interview”.
Be that as it may, the extended
executive meeting of the Staff
Association of Motilal Nehru College was
more than categorical in observing that
the whole thing had been designed more
BJP have accused the VC of trying to
select his “own men” for various
positions on the basis of caste and other
factors. Several members of the Nagar
Parishad have lent their support and have
demanded that the VC should be
dismissed. Also in this fray are the Jai
Bhawani Sena of Kshatriyas of the
Udaipur division. They are demanding
that an enquiry be set up against the
Vice- Chancellor and his mechanisms of
action. The Vice-President of youth wing
of BJP has asked the State Government
and law enforcement agencies to keep
an eye on the VC. They allege that he is
trying to intimidate/allure some agitating
leaders and threatening them with dire
consequences.
The teachers belonging to the
Kitchen Cabinet of the VC on the other
hand have come out in support of the
Vice-Chancellor and have asked for
providing protection to the VC who has
himself asked for a gunman (who would
be shot?)!
Another group of teachers/student
leaders has demanded that selection
process should continue and enquiry be
conducted to find the culprits who
entered VC’s residence and indulged in
acts of arson.
The style of functioning of Mehta is
controversial and has been a subject of
consistent debate. In an earlier selection
process, similar arbitrariness and
discrimination was exercised. This led to
to humiliate the teachers than any
objective assessment of the
“candidates” for senior scale.
Accordingly, the Staff Association,
adopted two resolutions:
Resolution No 1
“This extended Executive
Committee meeting of the Staff
Association is shocked to learn that two
teachers of Political Science Department
have not been recommended for Senior
Scale after a thoroughly orchestrated
sham of an interview on 5th July last in
that all sorts of irrelevant, shameful and
questionable points were raised by the
Principal. It is highly abominable that the
position taken by the Secretary, Dr
Narendra Kumar, in the content of Mr K
M Lal of the Deptt of Maths was
discussed in his absence which
bespeaks of malafide intentions of the
Principal and the Chairperson who was
probably misguided and thus colluded
with the Principal.
“The Extended EC meting feels that
the proceedings on 5th July were
pre-meditated and suffer from legal
infirmities in that Dr K K Panda, a teacher
on re-employment had no business to be
sitting on the aforementioned selection
committee because he, after re-
employment, is not even a permanent
teacher of the college.
“This meeting if of the considered
view that the presence of Dr K K Panda,
unauthorisedly and illegally, vitiated the
proceedings and calls upon the
authorities including members of the
Governing Body to hold selections of
senior scale teachers afresh with due
deliberations in keeping with law,
established norms and spirit of welfare of
teachers for which the promotion
scheme was designed in the first place.
“Resolved further that this
Association will launch an agitation
including sit-in and dharna as also
boycott of the Staff Council and all its
Committees if the action is not in a
week’s time.”
Resolution No 2
“This extended Executive
suicide by the son of the former VC of
MPATU (Dr V B Singh) who was not
selected while his junior got the job.
There was lot of agitation on this issue
but it was hushed up by intervention of
political heavy weights of Mewar who
helped save Mehta’s chair.
However, this time there is a
head-on collision between the VC and
various stakeholders of BJP who are
unitedly demanding the dismissal of the
VC. Despite loud proclamations and PR
work to somehow remain the news every
day (!) the VC has achieved little. His
signing a collaboration agreement with a
Jain company in Nagpur has been taken
without putting the matter through
research board, AC and EC of the
University. It is being alleged that this
special favour has been granted as the
company is being run by members of the
VC’s own community. Participatory
discussions, consensus and holding
regular meetings of various bodies of the
University are not in the conduct book of
the VC as he continues to suffer from
hallucination that the sole repository of
all the information, knowledge, wisdom
and experience. Members of the various
University bodies are treated shabbily
and looked down upon by the self-same
VC. However, a coterie of court jesters
and hangers on continue to derive perks,
powers and keep the VC on 9th sky. This
is a situation he enjoys greatly.
It is time the Chancellor laid down
Committee meeting of the Staff
Association places on record its
disappointment on the despicable
behaviour of the subject expert Professor
Subrata Mukherjee in the Screening
Committee meeting for senior scale of
two teachers of Political Science, viz, Dr
Narendra Kumar and Mr Pawan Sinha.
“Perhaps on a wrong briefing by the
Principal, Dr K K Panda and some others,
he violated moral code of behaviour
towards fellow teachers of the college
wherein the main focus of eligibility
criteria was sidelined and the
proceedings were on non-academic line
like participation in the activities of local
Staff Association etc as if the Staff
Association is a body of non- academic
individuals.
“The Association resolves to declare
Prof Subrata Mukherjee as persona non
grata in the College and calls upon him
to conduct himself in a more teacher-like
manner.”
Surprisingly, there is no word on the
behaviour or otherwise of the Head of the
Deptt of Political Science, Prof Bidut
Chakravarty, who was kept in limbo by
the previous VC, Prof Deepak Nayyar,
despite his having won in Delhi High
Cour. More surprising is the fact that
persons like him who have been victim of
injustice for so long should be seen to be
favouring injustice. Power is a heady
substance you know!
Coming days promise to be full of
discord the blame for which should go
mostly to the Principal and the
Chairperson, Prof (Retd) Nirmala Jain.
But one thing stares one in the face. If
routine promotions like senior-scale are
to be denied on flimsy grounds and on
non-academic considerations, what was
the point of long periods of DUTA
struggle like 109 strike in 1982-83? Those
who benefited from DUTA can
understand
UNIVERSITYTODAY
15 JULY 2005
some code of conduct, guidelines for
such inexperienced and naive VCs of
State Universities. Universities cannot be
run by speculation and conjecture alone.
There are transparent rules of apex
agencies of course. There are guidelines
too contained in the Acts and Statutes. Is
it very difficult for the VC to follow these
rules? Why create uncertainties which
give rise to manipulative practices
leading to bias? All bias(es) cumulatively
taint every action that the VC takes. No
one can support such tendencies for long
irrespective of the allurement and/or
intimidation. Can this simple message
be understood in scope and content by
the new genre of “inbred” politically
supported ignorant VCs of State
Universities? It may be difficult for them
to comprehend this but is it impossible if
they serious try or is it too strenuous for
them to display honesty, sense of
equitable justice and unimpeachable
integrity?
AICTE
Guidelines to
Check Private
Institutions
THE All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE) has made it
mandatory for all institutions running
PGDBM/PGDM/MBA programmes to
make all relevant details available to
AICTE every year well before the
admission process as display them on
their websites.
The move will, AICTE thinks, benefit
students who are lured by impressive
looking brochures and glossy publicity
material.
To ensure that the institutions do
not exaggerate their claims, the AICTE
has threatened strict action against the
defaulters. The AICTE Secretary, Ms
Anuradha Gupta, thinks that this way the
institutions cannot lie. The informaton
that is put on the website will be
accessible to all. And if any discrepencies
are found the Council will take action.
Apart from the usual details about
the academic session and the admission
procedure, all institutions will have to
declare the names of all the people
associated with it, the members of the
governing body, academic advisory
body, frequency of the Board meetings,
organisational chart and processes and
nature and extent of involvement of
faculty and students in academic affairs.
Other details to be included are full
details of the various programmes and
placement facilities including campus
placement over the last 2 years
mentioning minimum salary, maximum
salary and average salaries earned by
students.
Foreign universities will have to
mention whether they are accredited in
their home country, ranking of the
institution/university in the home country
and whether the degree offered is
equivalent to an Indian degree etc.
They will also have to specify the
nature of collaboration, conditions
thereof and complete details of payment
a student has to make to get the full
benefits of collaboration.
All institutions have to make full
disclosures about faculty including
adjunct and guest faculty. the profile of
each faculty with qualifications, total
experience, age and duration of
employment at the institute concerned
and whether student assessment of
faculty is in force.
UNIVERSITYTODAY
15 JULY 2005
IIIT Director M D Tewari Got His Age Reduced in HC
> From P 1 Col 4
that Garhwal University, Srinagar or
th e UP Governm en t (wh ere he
worked as Director) that his date of
birth was disputed?
How and why is it that the UGC kept
the first page of Tewari’s service
book blank for such a long time
without anyone entering his date of
birth after verifying it?
It appears that Dr M D Tewari got a
certificate of High School from the UP
Board where his date of birth was
wrongly stated as 16.8.1944 whereas it
should have read 16.8.1948 according to
his version. Nothing wrong with that.
Except that rules of the Government
(which the UGC follows) simply do not
permit this change at the fag end of one’s
career and definitely not just two months
before one is to retire from job. There are
many settled case laws on the subject
based on Supreme Court judgment. The
latest in the series is UP Madhyamik
Shiksha Parishad and others v Raj
Kumar Agnihotri [2005 AIR SCW 2470]
decided by Allahabad High Court where
a number of case laws have been cited
with approval.
The sequence of events indicates
that Dr Tewari (according to his claims
but there is no way to verify them)
continued to write to UP Board since
1962 when he passed his High School
examination from A H Higher Secondary
School, Musafirkhana (Sultanpur) in UP
for correcting his age and issue his a new
certificate. The UP Board initially chose
not to respond to Tewari’s entreaties.
That at least is the complaint of Tewari.
When there was no response from
the UP Board, Tewari filed a writ petition
in Allahabad High Court in 1981. It is not
What a shame my countrymen!
Baba Farid University VC’s Office,
Home Raided; Other Officials Too
by Perneet Singh, in The Tribune
Aread
CCORDING to The Tribune, a widely
mainline daily of Punjab, the
Vigilance Bureau of Punjab Police raided
the residences and offices of the
Vice-Chancellor of Baba Farid University
of Health Sciences, Faridkot, Dr J S
Gujral, as also Deputy Registrar, Mr K P
Singh, on 5 July last.
The Tribune reports that the
vigilance team led by SP, Mr Chaman
Lal, seized the Vice-Chancellor’s laptop
and two CPUs of his office, besides one
CPU from his residence. The team also
shifted question papers and answer
sheets of PMET conducted by the varsity
in a room, adjacent to the Deputy
Registrar’s office and sealed it.
According to reports, the
Vice-Chancellor Dr J S Gujral has
already been removed from his post
following allegations of paper leakage
for entrance examination of medical
colleges in Punjab.
The Tribune report continues that
earlier the local police of Faridkot had
kept these question papers in the office
of the Deputy Registrar. However, no
important document has been recovered
from the residences of both officials.
According to sources, the raids started at
11:30 am and continued till 4 pm on 5
July after which the vigilance team
headed towards the University. Mr K P
Singh accompanied the team during at
his as well as the Vice-Chancellor’s office.
The search operations at the
REGIONAL NEWSFILE 5
known if one really waits 19 years before filed a petition against the orders of the aforementioned Institute on 19 March
approaching a law court. Mr Justice V M Court allowing change of birth to Dr M 1999. “The UGC has neither received any
Sahai of Allahabad High Court finally D Tewari. One again, there is no way of application for leave beyond 25.9.1998 to
ordered on 12 December 2003 that a new confirming this bit of news too. 18.3.1999 not he was holding any post
certificate be issued to Dr M D Tewari with during this period,” states someone in
The rising star
revised date of birth. The High Court also the UGC. Clearly, these 6 months are
observed in the judgment that M D
Tewari had been corresponding with the
ByTewari
all available accounts, Dr M D
is a rising star in academe. His
absolutely unaccounted for in the UGC
and on this ground alone a lesser mortal
UP Board all this while for change in his first appointment in the UGC was on 31 would have had to face break in service.
May 1984 as a Scientist. He was
date of birth. Anyway, these orders were But not for powerful ones.
passed against UP Board and not the “absorbed permanently” wef 31 May Whereas Dr M D Tewari was to
1986 and Promoted as Joint Director wef
UGC, the employer of Dr Tewari at the retire from UGC on 31 August 2004 on
relevant time. It is difficult to see how the 18 December 1989. All this while one completing 60 years of age, his name
wonders if he ever cared to inform the
UGC was bound to accept this virtual last was “struck off” the rolls of UGC as per
minute change in the date of birth of Dr UGC that he had filed a writ petition for orders of the then Chairman wef 30
revision/correction in his date of birth.
Tewari and whether such a privilege September 2001. This order was later
would be extend to others and less Thereafter M D Tewari was cancelled as per orders of Allahabad
“relieved” on 1 April 1994 to take up the
influential ones also is a big question. High Court and therefore Tewari
Apparently, somebody somewhere in the post of Advisor in the AICTE (All India continued to hold lien in the UGC till he
Council for Technical Education) “on
UGC was willing to oblige Dr Tewari. sought voluntary retirement.
Intriguingly, the “rectified” foreign service basis” initially for a period As per Rules on the subject an
of 2 years but not exceeding 4 years.
certificate of High School examination, incumbent cannot be continued on
1962 issued by the Board of High School Dr Tewari was relieved from the deputation beyond the period of 5 years
AICTE on 24 July 1995 to take up as
& Intermediate Education, UP, is dated .... and if the deputation is required by the
30-12-62. However, a UGC document has Vice-Chancellor of Rohilkhand University borrowing office in the public interest
“on deputation basis” for which the UGC
observed that the Principal of the School approval for which is required to
at Musafirkhana (sultanpur) has had sent a ‘No Objection Certificate’ and obtained from the administrative
also conveyed its approval for extension
mentioned the date on which this revised ministry. “In this regard a letter was sent
certificate was issued. But, there is no of his deputation upto 24 July 1998. to HRD for seeking approval but nothing
On expiry of the deputation period
endorsement by the Board on the has been heard from the MHRD so far,”
allegedly “rectified” High School Tewari was to report back in UGC on 15 states an internal note of the UGC. The
July 1998 but he was granted Earned
certificate that it is a revised one and from same note suggested that Dr Tewari be
all appearances it looks like the original Leave for 2 months from 25 July 1998 to asked to “report back to the UGC
24 September 1998 by the Rohilkhand
certificate. Perhaps a mistake at the immediately as he is to retire on
Board’s office! In that case, even the University. 30.8.2004 .....” But nothing happened.
And now starts the interesting bit.
rectified certificate needs another And Tewari managed to get away with
rectification!! Tewari was to join UGC on 25 September this all and finally got “voluntary
1998 after expiry of earned leave but
Unconfirmed reports also indicate retirement” from UGC on 31.8.2004 after
that the younger brother of Dr Tewari has neither he reported for duty nor sent any getting his reduced age duly recorded
leave application for extension of his
already retired from job in UP after there. Clearly, someone was helping
completing his 60 years. True or not, it leave. Meanwhile, he was appointed as Tewari despite his irregular absence for
OSD in IIIT, Allahabad during BJP regime
does warrant a serious investigation. almost 6 months.
However, late reports indicate in the pay scale of Rs 14300-18300 and Later on someone in the UGC
accordingly he joined the
that someone in Allahabad has already suggested that Dr Tewari be asked to
apply for leave for the period from
15.9.1998 to 18.3.1999 and also furnish
year-wise pay drawn from the IIIT from
the date of appointment as also leave
availed in IIIT etc. Someone finally woke
up in the UGC to the fact that Dr Tewari
had to retire and his pension etc had to
be calculated pronto. This was as late as
June 2004 when the new Government
was in place. Accordingly, calculations
were made and the job done. Some
missing entries were done after a note
dated 5 July 2004 of the UGC. Some
University lasted for about couple of the process of tallying the results with more “dues” from Rohilkhand University
hours. The sources said, reports The that of one held by Baba Farid University were also demanded as late as 13 July
Tribune the two computers seized from would start soon. 2004.
the VC’s office were used in his presence The SP said candidates whose rank
by the computer operators of the had improved substantially and those
Finally, a note dated 16 August 2004
from the Internal Audit Cell of the UGC,
University and they were even handling a who abstained in the second test would just 15 days before Dr Tewari retired from
computer at his home. The SP told The also be interrogated. The SP told The the UGC, observed: “It has been
Tribune that the scrutiny of the Tribune that the team was now working observed that the service book of the
documents seized would be done at on the theory of leakage of entire official is incomplete, even first page has
Chandigarh. The SP said during the raids question paper and not merely 88 not been filled at all and has not been
a computer expert accompanied the questions which had reached the office attested anywhere. The service book and
vigilance team and the expert would of TheTribune on the day of examination. leave account may be completed before
analyse the data stored in these The SP said the team was not terming the case if finalised for payment.” And
computers. those who had purchased paper as Tewari retired from UGC on 31 August
When asked about the chances of accused and was only seeking 2004 not at the age 60 but officially
deletion and manipulation of the data, information from them. They could not changed to 56 years. This really was a
the SP said the computer expert would interrogate the Vice-Chancellor due to ill long haul. But, pretty rewarding in the
also look into that aspect and could health while Mr K P Singh was not end for Dr Tewari who now is looking
detect any such activity. The SP told The available. forward to take over as the first VC of
Tribune that the Vigilance Bureau had Allahabad (Central) University.
also sought gazette of PMET results from The meteoric rise of Dr Tewari
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and from OSD at IIIT, Allahabad in the pay
scale of Rs 14300-18300 to Rs 25,000
“One of the objects of a newspaper is to understand popular feelings and give as Vice-Chancellor is something we
expression to it; another is to arouse among the people certain desirable have not been able to register. But,
sentiments; and the third is fearlessly to expose popular defects...Reference to sure it was during the regime of Dr
abuses in the states is undoubtedly part of journalism and it means to creating Murli Manohar Joshi. That’s how
public opinion. I have taken up journalism not for its sake but merely as an aid loyalties are rewarded in this big bad
to what I have conceived to be my mission in life. My mission is to teach by world.
example and present under severe restraint the use of matchless weapons of
satyagraha which is a direct corollary of non-violence. It is a solvent strong
enough to melt the stoniest heart to be true to my faith. Therefore, I may not
write in anger or malice; I may not write idly. I may not write merely to excite
passion. The reader can have no idea of the restraint I have to exercise in the
“Newspapers carry all good
choice of topics and my vocabulary. It is training for me. It enables me to peep
into myself and to make discoveries of weakness. Often my vanity dictates a things when all good people
smart expression or my anger a harsh adjective. It is a terrible ordeal but a fine are in jail.”
exercise to remove weeds ..... I have placed before me and the reader no
impossible idea or ordeal.” — Mahatma Gandhi — Daniel Moynihan
 UNIVERSITYTODAY
6 REGIONAL NEWSFILE 15 JULY 2005

Gender Panel in Tune With University Ordinance:

St Stephen’s College
complete control over its own affairs. “It senior-most lady teacher and the should dominate the Committee. “It is
by Bhadra Sinha, in The Times of India is a serious intrusion into the junior-most teacher as the member of the well known in academic circles that the
administration of the college,” reads the Committee. No outsider has been more scholarly and intellectually
affidavit. apparently appointed except as a college disposed teachers, though willing to
STthatSTEPHEN’S COLLEGE has claimed
the institution of College In consonance with the Supreme psychiatrist. exercise their franchise, are not inclined
Complaints Committee (CCC) formed to Court order, the University had framed an Wilson explained the reason for to stand for elections,” read the affidavit.
deal with sexual harassment complaints, Ordinance directing all the colleges to adopting a selection procedure, which Wilson said the University’s
is in consonance with Delhi University’s form a sexual harassment committee was duly approved by the college’s “insidious” programme of nominations
ordinance although it has been comprising elected members. The governing body. “It was felt that the by those elected was a sure formula for
composed keeping in mind the minority Committee was supposed to comprise 2 composition (as per the University’s creation of a Committee with vested and
status of the College. teachers, 2 non-teaching staff members, Ordinance) was not in keeping with the biased “ideological” interests.
[UT had carried in great details how 3 students and 2 persons who had to be Constitution, traditions and ethos of the Shorn of verbose it means that St
the St Stephen’s Committee was not in co-opted from outside the college. “The College and that the said composition Stephen’s College need not follow any
consonance with the University outsiders had to be either a person who could easily create a situation where the law of the University simply on the
Ordinance XV on the subject — Editor]. had worked for the cause of women or Committee could pass into the hands of strength of it being a “minority”
While denying the allegations someone with a legal background,” says those in whom the founding community institution. It is time this concept was
levelled by two teachers, including the advocate for the petitioners, Manish had no confidence,” stated Wilson. examined once again by powers that be
Head of the Maths Deptt (Ms Nandita Kumar Bishnoi. He claimed that keeping the including law courts.
Narain) and the other one Gabriel from As per the allegations, Dr Wilson eclectic ethos of the College, it was
English Deptt of St Stephen’s College, allegedly gave a go-by to the University’s necessary to ensure that no shade of
the Principal, Dr Anil Wilson stated in his Ordinances and appointed the political, social or religious disposition
affidavit that the institution has a right to
maintain its minority status against “all
such rules and regulations which
impinge or are likely to affect its ‘minority
DUCKU Writes to Shivaji College GB Chairman
character’.” Governing Body of Shivaji College the Principal of college (Shivaji
According to Wilson’s affidavit, the From DUCKU sources (University of Delhi) regarding the College) is treating the college as her
appendix to the University’s Ordinance alleged misbehaviour of the Principal, Dr personal fiefdom and hurling injustice
giving details of how the CCC should be (Ms) Rama Patnaik and sought prompt on the staff by arbitrarily suspending or
formed, violates the provisions of the INRawat,
a letter dated 12 May 2005, Mr H D S
General Secretary of the Delhi action in the matter. terminating the non-teaching staff
college constitution that stipulates that University & College Karamchari Union The full text of the letter is as below: without any rhyme or reason. Ever
the College shall have and exercise (DUCKU) has written to the Chairman, “Your goodself is aware of the fact that since she joined the College in 2002,
she has suspended about 8 members
of non-teaching staff and wasted huge
amount of money on enquiries. Apart
Vivekanand College Teachers Agitated from this she has also instigated one
teacher against Mrs Joyce, working in
Principals and the Governing Bodies has Sadhna Harish, for the past few years has office. [See UT, 15 June 2005 — Ed].
Special to UT become a considerably significant trend discontinued several courses in the The teacher in question assaulted Mrs
in Delhi University. Conditions prevailing colleges without even discussing in the Joyce which is tantamount to sexual
in Vivekanand College for Women are a staff council of the college. Taking harassment in accordance with the
GOVERNING
authoritarian
the colleges with an
attitude by the glaring addition. The Principal, Dr (Ms) recommendation for opening and provision of law in this regard but no
closing of courses and departments in action on the said teacher has been
colleges is a must as per Ordinance XVIII taken.
of the University Calendar. The 4-year “Recently, the Principal suspended Sh
Year: 2005-06
BEd course was discontinued in 2002. A C Jain SO (Admn) only to hide her
Department of Education and shortcomings. Unfortunately, the
Advertising was also subsequently done College Governing Body has not
passed any stricture on the functioning
WANTED away with.
Three Lecturers were appointed on of the Principal due to which she keeps
temporary basis (2 in the Deptt of History committing atrocities on the
Applications are invited from the eligible candidates for the following
and one in Psychology) through a proper non-teaching staff. When we met you, it
vacancies in Renuka College of Education, Renapur (Permanent Non-granted) run
selection committee. Even after 10 years was impressed upon us that remedial
by Renuka Education Society, Latur. The applications should reach the
of teaching in the college against action would be initiated to redress the
undersigned within 15 days from the date of publication of this advertisement at
permanent vacancies, the Principal is grievances of the non-teaching staff. till
the College address.
refusing to hold interviews to regularize date we have heard of no remedial
the teachers. The matter was taken up by measure from your end but the
Sr. No. Post No. Posts Full time Reservation
the Teaching Staff Association with the Principal became more atrocious.
Governing Body who instituted an inquiry “We appeal to you and the honourable
01 Principal One Full time Unreserved
against the Principal on this issue. members of the Governing Body of the
However, the vacancies were advertised College to kindly redress the long
on 9 March 2004. pending grievances of the
Educational Qualification:
Even after the lapse of 11 months, non-teaching staff and to revoke the
1) A Master Degree with at least 55% of the marks OR its equivalent
the Principal is refusing to hold suspension of Sh A C Jain and others.
grade of B in the 7 point scale with letter grades O,A,B,C,D,E & F.
interviews. The Principal initially insisted “You will appreciate that the
2) Ph.D. or equivalent published work.
that there is a ban on recruitment of Karamcharis of Shivaji College have
3) Total experience of 10/15 years of teaching/research in Universities/
teacher imposed by the UGC. A letter not disturbed the annual examination
Colleges & other institutions of higher education.
dated 31 May 2004 was provided to the of 2005 as their loyalty lie with the
Principal which stated, “The UGC has not college and will not do anything which
Pay scales: Pay scales and other allowances as per the Rules of U.G.C., State
imposed any ban on fresh employment is prejudicial to the interest of the
Govt., and Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded.
of lecturers in colleges or universities”. students, but at the same time we will
The Principal refused to relent. not be cowed down and continue to
Note:
Subsequently, Dean of Colleges, Delhi resist the recalcitrant Principal.” sd/-
1) Eligible candidates should submit their applications through the proper
University also wrote to the Principal in HDS Rawat, General Secretary.
channel.
August 2004 informing her about a UGC Copies of this letter have been sent
2) No T.A./D.A. will be paid for attending the interview.
circular asking the college to make to members of the governing body of
3) Attested xerox copies of S.S.C. certificates, Degree, Mark- sheets, caste
permanent appointments not exceeding Shivaji College.
certificates etc. should be attached to the application.
4) The condition of 55% is not applicable to those candidates who were 96 teachers. The total number of Teachers too
appointed before 27.02.1979 as a Lecturer. permanent teachers in the College at
present is less than 65. OnShivaji
the other hand, the teachers of
College are none too happy
Application complete in all respects should reach the following address. T he Principal ignored the university
letter and did nothing to call the
with the oppressive Principal Rama
Patnaik. They have prepared a list of
To, selection committee. On the initiative of
charges against her which they call
Secretary Prof Vibha Maurya (University nominee in
‘White Paper’ containing 86 items in all.
Renuka Education Society, the Governing Body) the Dean of Some of the charges listed by Shivaji
c/o Renuka College of Education Colleges again wrote expressing her College Teachers Association are serious
Near Busstand, Renapur anguish for not taking any action on
enough to warrant an independent
Tq. Renapur, Dist. Latur earlier communications of the University
inquiry. For example, at item 3 the
and not filling the posts in the College.
sd/- Secretary teachers’ association lists: “Illegal or
The letter was sent on 12 January 2005
Renuka Education Society unauthorised diversion of Boys
but not steps have been taken to Development Funds for use in the
LATUR implement the directives of the alterations of Principal’s residence and
University.
staff quarters”.
UNIVERSITYTODAY
15 JULY 2005
Dress Code for Girl Students in Colleges?
by Vrijendra, from Mumbai
THE new academic session has just
begun in Bombay. Even as students
and teachers are settling down, a huge
controversy has gripped city’s colleges.
In a recent interview, the Vice-Chancellor,
Dr Khole, has suggested the need for a
dress code for girl students in colleges in
the light of the Marine Drive rape case in
the city a few months ago. “We will
impress upon principals that they should
ensure that students dress well on the
campus,” said Dr A D Sawant, the
pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University.
Recall that a few months back, a
college student was raped by a Mumbai
police constable in the city in broad
daylight in the posh south Bombay area
of Marine Drive.
The rape incident outraged the city
and sparked large-scale protests from
residents’ groups, citizens’ groups as
well as women and civil rights groups
that continued for weeks. The top brass
of the police and the state government
were deservedly put on the defensive.
Later, the constable was suspended,
charged with rape and the case is on in a
city court.)
A number of Principals of colleges
in the city are supportive of the move.
Principal Naresh Chandra felt that a
dress code would be a welcome sign of
discipline. “Girl students will look more
presentable if all of them wear salwar
kameez”, he added. A few colleges
already have a dress code in place.
According to Fr Fraser, Principal of St
Xavier’s college, “we get the students to
pay a fine or ask their parents to come to
college” if students flout the dress code
of the college.
FEATURE/REGIONAL NEWSFILE
Students are understandably
unhappy. We still don’t know how the
issue will shape up and how many
colleges will actually impose a dress
code for their girl students and how a
majority of teachers and students will
respond to the debate.
Meanwhile, The Indian Express,
Mumbai edition, [24 June] has joined the
debate with a hard hitting editorial
against any proposal to have a dress
code for (girl) students. The edit has said
that while Dr Khole is rightly concerned
with the welfare of his young students,
the remedy he has suggested makes him
a part of the problem of crimes against
women and not the solution. It reveals a
medieval mindset and blurs the
distinction between the criminal and the
victim of sexual crimes, the paper rightly
adds.
While no one would disagree with
Kerala Govt Forced to Implement Differential Fees
by Thomas Joseph, from Kottayam
THE Students Federation of India (SFI)
wrested a major concession from the
Government of Kerala on fees structure
in self-financing engineering and
medical colleges under the control of the
Government. After a massive week-long
agitation, the Govt agreed to implement
its own policy of differential fees structure
for merit and management quota seats
in 16 engineering and 2 medical
self-financing colleges that come under
its control.
The tussle between the Govt and the
SFI over the issue of admission and fees
in self-financing colleges is pretty old.
the principle that students, both girls and
boys, should be appropriately dressed
and not confuse the college with a party
get together, the singular focus on
provocative and revealing clothes of
young girls is simply misplaced. It once
again exposes our double standards of
morality for girls and boys. More
disturbingly, it takes the blame and
responsibility away from the perpetrators
of sexual crimes against women. It also
denies the reality of sexual crimes in
India.
Besides, the notion that
provocative, revealing clothes of a girl
somehow so sexually provoke a man that
he is forced to rape the girl is to portray
the man as a helpless victim of
provocation instead of the other way
round. It negates the very idea that a man
decides to rape a girl to teach her a
lesson (of whatever kind). That rape is
The students who initially objected to the
very idea of starting self-financing
colleges in the private sector finally tried
to pin the Government down to at least
honouring its own equation that two
self-financing colleges will be the equal
of one government college. The UDF
government had tried to justify its policy
of opening up the professional education
sector to private players on the plea that
only fees at concessional Government
rates would be levied in 50% of the seats
admitted under the merit quota. The
argument sounded plausible as the
concept of “free seats” and “payment
seats” brought in by the Unnikrishnan
Judgment of the Supreme Court was in
force in 2001 when the equation was
7
more about power and dominance than
about sexual pleasure. On the contrary,
Dr Khole and Dr Sawant’s views suggest
that, for them, a girl’s dress automatically
reflects her sexual morality!
Some one should tell Dr Khole not
to worry about how the young girl
students dress but to simply ensure
that men and boys on the campus learn
to behave responsibly towards young
girls and women. Colleges should
teach young male students that a girl,
however ’provocatively’ dressed, is
not asking for any kind of sexual
harassment. And every time a man or
a boy on the campus tries to sexually
harass a girl/ woman, the college and
university authorities would take
prompt action against him and punish
him.
originally mooted by the then Chief
Minister A K Antony. But the Judgment in
TMA Pai Foundation Case delivered on
the 31 October 2002, which overruled the
distinction between free and payment
seats took the wind out of the UDF sail,
especially as the self-financing
managements refused to honour their
earlier commitment on the fees structure
seeking shelter under the new verdict of
the apex court on the issue. Even the
co-operative and public sector
self-financing colleges sought refuge
under the new dispensation and refused
to honour the Government’s
commitment to levy only concessional
rates of fees in 50% of the seats admitted
under the merit quota.
 UNIVERSITYTODAY
8 COUNTERPOINT 15 JULY 2005

The Great Petroleum Price Debate is Spurious at Best

Why should petroleum pricing be source of fiscal correction or to fund state deficit?
by C S Kalra

EVERYBODY is complaining. The oil

companies, all of them sarkari except
petroleum — the proximate cause for war
in the first place. Such is the stuff the
to the Union Government or any
petroleum marketing company. In other
be unwarranted ‘burden’ on the
consumers. But there the story ends.
Reliance, are complaining that because international freaks are made of. words every time prices are increased the Above all, what and where is the
of unrealistic pricing of petroleum In all of this melee it has been revenues of Delhi Government (or necessity to continue with the good old
products and subsidy burden they are forgotten that petroleum pricing in India Haryana/Punjab elsewhere) jump up. practice of ‘levy’ of Rs 1.50 per litre on
losing big money. This whining gets is being used, somewhat wonkily, to Somebody somewhere needs to point petrol for maintenance of highways when
reflected in daily share pricing also at the correct fiscal imbalances. Raising prices out to the Government(s) — both Union most of the highways in India are
bourses (how very fallacious as if pricing in tune with cost of inputs is and State — that petroleum is hardly a subjected to heavy toll tax? Either you
of other products also get reflected in understandable. But why should state commodity which should be used for collect toll or you collect levy. Both
share pricing). The Union Government is strike it rich every time there is spurt in fiscal correction. In plain simple words cannot go together. But the state,
hell-bent to let the petroleum prices stay international pricing? There is something why can’t petroleum products be obsessed with reducing the fiscal deficit
as long as it can with the Left breathing fishy in this whole petro-pricing game. charged a specific duty by tonnage and and keeping it within the IMF- ordained
down its neck what with the ongoing My friend, Mr S K Puri, Petroleum Editor not ad valorem ie money value. The state 4.5% of GDP, will have none of this and
nation-wide protests which appear well- of The Times of India (Delhi) tells me that should not seek to benefit (or lose) when yet continue its “dialogue” (dialogue my
orchestrated but convince none and have the pricing formula is extremely the prices, be they international or foot, it is a conspiracy plain and simple)
temporarily abated after Ayodhya attack. complex. Are you listening Maniji? domestic, of oil change. The state should with the Left. And the Left pretends that
Some noora kushti this! Let us remember that in places like revenue neutral on account of price it is innocent of this all and is fighting for
On the other hand international Delhi or States like Haryana, Punjab and change. However, state can certainly people. This is a mockfight at its worst
prices of crude oil continue their elsewhere petroleum products benefit by increase in consumption of and the game will soon be up as soon as
northward journey unabated and had command highest sales tax and equal to petro products as the number of cars etc people see through it.
crossed $ 61.50 per barrel on 7 July last. (laugh your way if you can or hold your increases which is how it should be. What is needed is an honest hard
After all, Tony Blair had made it very clear breathe) liquor! Whereas the highest slab look at petroleum pricing structures. The
even before the Iraq War began that permitted under VAT system is 12.5%
Biggest user duties and taxes can be made variable
‘they’ would pay for the war with Iraqi oil.
Sure enough, the ‘empty warheads’ like
petroleum products, including light
spirits (popularly called petrol), are
Lest we forget, the biggest single user
of diesel in India is not the road
with the price such that the whole thing
should revenue neutral in the short run.
President Bush are reaping a rich harvest charged at 20%. Incidentally, the only transport as is commonly believed but This demand has been made by many
of post-war pricing. And if this brings other ‘commodity’ to command this the railways. After retiring steam engines, quarters from time to time but the
some additional moolah to Bush parivar outrageously high rate of tax is liquor. and in the absence of large chunks of governments are in no mood to listen.
(they are reportedly having substantial Now do you see any similarity between railways remaining without And there lies the tragedy of
shares in petro companies) so much the petrol and daaroo. Nor do I! Perhaps electrification, the diesel engines are the spurious “debate” on oil pricing. We all
more better for everyone. They too need Mani Iyer can educate us all on this. order of the day. On a conservative should wait when a government is willing
money after all! Iraqis are paying for the And the money so collected by way estimate the railways consume almost to do without petroleum prices as source
war they never wanted. And paying by of sales tax goes to State coffer and not half of the total diesel commanded by the of fiscal profligacy.
market. So, if and when diesel prices are
raised it is like one pocket of the
government filling the other one. To that
extent, Leftists are right. There need not
For Your
INFORMATION
A Unique Offer to
A CORRECTION: In the last issue dated 15 June 2005 of UT it was wrongly reported
that a single Search Committee will recommend names for VCs of all the 4
universities in Haryana which are headless. The fact is that each University has
Readers of UT
its own set of Search Committee where two members are supplied by the EC of
the University concerned and one (Chairman) by the Chancellor. The error is
Buy any of the two books:
regretted though the ‘news’ came from generally reliable sources. 1. Lest We Forget: Books of a
REMOVED: Dr Ram Pal Singh, Vice-Chancellor of CCS Meerut University, Meerut has bygone era
been removed from his post by the Chancellor in the last week of June 2005.
PUT: Dr D K Mittal, who was working as Acting Principal of Shri Ram College of 2. Dissent is a Duty
Commerce (University of Delhi) has put in his papers as officiating Principal. authored by the Editor of UT,
TAKEN OVER: Mr Sudip Banerjee has taken over as Secretary (Higher Education) C S Kalra, just @ 100/- each plus
after the retirment of Mr B S Baswan on 30 June last. Ms Kumud Bansal stays on postage and handling of Rs 25/-.
as Secretary (Primary Education) though said to be senior to Mr Sudip Banerjee.
STAYS ON: Contrary to earlier reports, Mr Sunil Kumar, Joint Secretary (Higher
Remit by D/D or MO in the name of
Education) in the Ministry of Human Resource Development has not been shifted “University Today” to:
to Ministry of Panchayat Raj etc under Mani Iyer because the MHRD, Mr Arjun
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on g round s of mala fides even after the college governing body had
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judgment.
LISTED: The Delhi High Court heard the writ petition filed by Dr Devendra Kumar of
Rajdhani College (University of Delhi), one of the very few teachers in Economics
to have been granted re-employment, questioning the validity of making him file
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