Delhi High Court allows Daulat Ram College to replace acting principal

In its order, the court allowed Daulat Ram College trust to appoint a principal according to the decision of its governing body, after removal of the acting principal.

The college trust had alleged that the university wasn’t allowing it to remove Aggarwal despite allegations of “misconduct and insubordination” against her and has been serving as acting principal of the college since February 2, 2013.

Delhi University informed Justice Rajiv Shakdher that it had issued a notification regarding the appointment of a regular principal in the college and said the notification was issued on March 7 after an executive council meeting for the qualification and the appointment process of a principal was held.

Justice Shakdher disposed of the plea, asking the college to appoint a new principal.

The college trust said Delhi University’s “insistence” that Aggarwal continue serving as the acting principal, “despite her non-suitability was solely to provide the university with a foothold in the college to allow it to exercise control over the college and impinge upon the autonomy of the college”.

Aggarwal was appointed acting principal in February 2013. Her term was to expire in August. However, the trust alleged it was “coerced into re-appointing” her despite the governing body terming her “grossly unsuitable for the post”. She was re-appointed to the post in August 2013 and then again in February 2014.

In its plea filed through advocates Sheyel Trehan and Diya Kapoor, the college had sought permission to appoint a regular principal or to approve the name proposed by the governing body and asked the court to direct the university to remove Aggarwal, who was “occupying” the post of acting principal “without sanction or approval of the governing body”.