FYUP-backer UGC chief to head panel to select DU VC

NEW DELHI: University Grants Commission chairman Ved Prakash will chair the search team for the new vice-chancellor of Delhi University. The three-member committee also comprise former CAG Vinod Rai and former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan who was nominated by the university's executive council. The eventful term of current VC Dinesh Singh will end on October 29.
The appointment of the new VC will be closely watched by the academic circle, given the controversies in DU regarding the now defunct Four-Year-Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) and other issues.In fact, Singh was issued a show-cause notice by the HRD ministry earlier this year over FYUP.
Prakash's appointment as the team's chairperson came as a surprise for the university. Apart from the fact that his appointment as the VC of National University of Educational Planning and Administration, before he became the UGC chairman, is sub-judice and is up for hearing on November 19, it is also a well-known fact that FYUP was introduced with his knowledge and Prakash had even publically praised Dinesh Singh for the programme. However, after the NDA government took over, the UGC did a u-turn and asked DU to roll back FYUP in 2014.
"The news that Ved Praksh is the chairman of the search committee has brought some discomfort. The UGC chairman had supported professor Dinesh Singh and his team during the implementation of FYUP. He also turned a deaf ear to representations on other important issues, including violation of the reservation policy. He openly expressed his admiration for Dinesh Singh on platforms including the university's cultural fest, Antardhwani. We fear a conflict of interest since DU needs to be freed from all those responsible for the mess created under Dinesh Singh's administration," said Abha D Habib, DUTA member.