NEW DELHI: The almost comical crisis over Delhi University's top posts deepened on Friday after P C Jha, controversially appointed the registrar, defied the Union ministry of education. On Thursday, the ministry had pointed out that vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi's appointment of Geeta Bhatt as pro VC and Jha as registrar were invalid because these were done during Tyagi's leave of absence.
The ministry also wrote to the President of India, the university's Visitor, recommending an inquiry against Tyagi and sending him on leave pending inquiry. The offices of the pro VC and registrar remained sealed on Friday.
VC’s faction hits back in letter to ministry
Meanwhile, once Bhatt left the office, three persons from the other camp — pro vice-chancellor PC Joshi, director of south campus Suman Kundu and registrar Vikas Gupta — allegedly broke the lock and entered the office.
Earlier on Friday, in defiance of the ministry’s letter endorsing the propriety of Gupta’s appointment as registrar by the DU executive council on October 21, Jha, whose appointment by Tyagi as the acting registrar on Wednesday triggered the controversy, wrote to the ministry insisting that he and Bhatt were appointed to their posts in due compliance with the Acts, statutes and ordinances governing the university.
Also, at the behest of the VC, a working group committee was formed to expedite the process of recruitment and promotions of teaching and non-teaching staff in the university and colleges, the notification for which was signed by Jha.
Explaining his stand to TOI, Jha, who has also been given charge as director of South Campus by Tyagi, said, “The question being raised is about the vice-chancellor’s leave, but who does the VC take leave from? The vice-chancellor is appointed by the Visitor, and DU is an autonomous institution. The moment the vice-chancellor signs a document, it means he has already rejoined office. This is part of the Delhi University Act.” However, Jha refused to comment on the education ministry recommendation to the Visitor regarding Tyagi.
Responding to pro vicechancellor P C Joshi’s letter to the education ministry in July that Tyagi had been on leave since July 2 on health grounds, the ministry on Thursday wrote to Gupta that orders issued by the VC during his period of absence without having rejoined office properly and officially could not be valid.
The ministry had also written to the President requesting his intervention in the matter. According to a government source, the ministry recommended an inquiry against Tyagi for going on leave without informing the ministry and for administrative lapses. It is also learned that the ministry recommended that Tyagi be sent on leave pending inquiry. The incumbent VC is set to complete his tenure in March 2021.
Meanwhile, on the university campus, the war of letters and statements continued, with Gupta issuing a post-midnight statement following the ministry’s letter to say that all orders issued without the approval of pro VC Joshi were null and void. "For the last two days, several notifications have circulated through various media regarding statutory appointments and other related matters," Gupta’s statement said. "This also includes the notifications regarding the appointment of a new pro vicechancellor, registrar and director of South Campus. It is hereby clarified that Prof P C Joshi, pro vice-chancellor, will act as vice-chancellor and is the only competent authority to approve issue orders as per the provisions of the Act, statutes and ordinances of the university."
The VC’s office countered Gupta’s statement as "fake" and instructed the director of computer sciences to remove it from the university’s official website.