‘Suspended’ principal Josan defers exams indefinitely

The new move by Josan is bound to confuse students as the exams were to begin on Thursday. Student though said the notice was pasted at 9 am,an hour later there was no trace of it. Dr Josan had left college for his court case’s hearing at 10 am.

Neither the DAV College Managing Committee nor the principal appointed by it has so far objected to the major decision. The governing body of the college said they did not receive a copy of the letter issued by the UT Administration on Monday which stated that Dr Josan’s suspension as ‘invalid’.

“Since the classes were disrupted for the last one week,I decided to postpone the exams and accordingly issued a notice. The re-scheduling has not been chalked out yet but the exams would not be held at least for a week. The fresh schedule shall also be intimated to the students well in advance,” Dr Josan said.

On the other hand,Prof Shashi K Gupta,head of Department of Commerce,whom the managing committee had appointed as principal on September 15,continued working from the staff room. While Josan is taking all the major decisions,Gupta has been reduced to a rubber stamp. He handles the college accounts and official communications.

The Director DAV Colleges M L Aeri,who is representative of the governing body feigned ignorance on the ongoing tug of war in the college and denied commenting on the recent developments. “I have no information about any issue,” Aeri said.

S Marriya,member of the DAV College Managing Committee,New Delhi,and former principal of the college,said,“The general secretary of the governing body DAV College,Chandigarh,did not receive the letter issued by the UT Administration. The body would be able to comment on the issue accordingly after receiving the letter.” Marriya also expressed surprise over Josan’s decision on postponing the exams and added that the managing committee had no such information.

The letter issued by the secretary (Education) to the general secretary,governing body DAV College,Sector 10,Chandigarh,on Monday,said: “It is to inform you that the decision conveyed vide order of the committee on September 15 having been taken without associating the Director Higher Education is invalid in view of condition of the order dates November 26,1994,passed by the UT Administration whereby the governing body of the college was approved.”

The committee has been requested to reconvene a meeting of the governing body to take any decision by associating all the members and by giving due notice of 15 days to each member to reach an unanimous decision in the matter.

What does the order by UT Administration dated November 26,1994 say : While approving the governing body of DAV College,Sector 10,Chandigarh,the Education Department clearly mentioned in the order that-

*No member including the president,vice-president,general secretary or teachers’ representatives shall be replaced without the prior approval of UT Director Public Instruction (colleges)

*The nominee of Director Public Instruction (colleges) and the nominee of vice-chancellor,Panjab University,shall be invited in every meeting of the governing body without which any decision taken by the governing body may not be considered valid by the Director Public Instruction (colleges).

*All instructions/regulations issued by Panjab University and UT Education Department shall be followed in this regard

*All selection of staff (teaching as well as non-teaching) will be done by the duly constituted selection committee(s) of Panjab University in this regard from time to time

*A copy of the proceedings of every meeting of Governing Body shall be sent to the DPI(c) for his information