Principal appointed illegally after home’ interview

According to the laws, the appointment of the principal in any college affiliated to the university is done by a panel comprising three members nominated by the governing body of the college and three by the university. The name the panel recommends is then sent to the vice-chancellor for clearance.

In this case, the interview panel consisting of three nominees of the governing body interviewed 13 candidates, without any university nominees. The governing body also issued a letter of appointment without seeking the VC’s clearance.

A S Narag, professor in the Faculty of Management in the university, who was one of the university’s nominees for the interview panel, said: "I was to participate in the interview scheduled for May 31 at the university guest house. But on the previous day, at about 9 pm two women came to deliver a letter to me, informing that they venue was shifted to Shalimar Bagh." Narag was told that the interview would be now held at the residence of a governing body member. "I was shocked to know that," he told The Indian Express. How would they inform outstation participants and why should an interview, which is an official meeting, be held at some individual’s residence, he said. "So I wrote on the letter that due to procedural irregularities, I would not participate."

The other two university nominees also did not participate, citing similar reasons. The governing body, however, chose to go ahead with the interview.

The chairman of the governing body, Sucha Singh, denies the charge. He said it was the university guest house which had told him that the booking had been cancelled. He said, "The guest house gave it to me in writing on May 30, at 5 pm that the booking had been cancelled."

The chairman of the university guest house, Prof Gouri S Gupta, said: "It’s true that they had the booking but the booking form stated the purpose was interview. On May 30 evening I had gone to the guest house and saw cars parked there. When asked about it I was told that some people had come for making arrangements for the lunch for the governing body. But they hadn’t mentioned this fact earlier, so on grounds that they had hidden the facts, I cancelled the booking."

Sucha Singh said they had no alternative but to conduct the interview at the member’s house because of the proximity to the original venue. He said all the interviewees from within Delhi were informed of the change by 11 pm. For outstation interviewees, he had two cars stationed at the original venue to take them to the changed venue.

When asked why the appointment had not been forwarded to the university for approval, he said: "Why should I tell that to the press? It’s a confidential matter."

He alleged that the VC had refused to meet him when he went to tell him about the appointment. The VC was not available for comment but sources in the VC’s office say that they have received no intimation from the college regarding the new appointment.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

Dean of Colleges, Delhi University, S S Rana said: "The governing body has to nominate a three-member interview panel, which is communicated to the university. The university then nominates three members to the panel. One is the vice-chancellor or his nominee and two are members of the university academic council. The six-member panel conducts the interview and selects one name or more. This is forwarded to the VC who can either approve the name(s) or ask for another interview with a panel consisting of the Visitor’s (President of India) nominee, the chairman of governing body, the VC the pro-VC and two members of the university executive council. This panel selects names(s) out of which the governing body can finally appoint the principal."