October 29, 2020 1:40:43 am
DU VC Yogesh Tyagi
The week-long power struggle between the Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, Yogesh Tyagi, and Pro VC PC Joshi, ended on Wednesday with the suspension of the former by order of President Ram Nath Kovind.
Tyagi’s suspension, the first in DU history, came a day after the president approved the Ministry of Education’s proposal to launch an investigation against him for failing to fulfill his duties and responsibilities. The President is the DU Visitor and the appointing authority for the VC position.
Tyagi has been suspended until further orders to ensure a fair investigation, as he can “influence / coerce witnesses and alter the material records of the University,” says the ministry leadership.
The government has identified eight charges of breach of duty against him. The investigation will investigate allegations that the VC held vacant statutory and key positions such as Pro VC, Registrar, Finance Officer and Treasurer; delay in hiring teachers despite meetings held by the Ministry of Education; mishandled last year’s teachers’ protest for the re-election of ad hoc teachers; unauthorized leave was taken from the first week of July; and he hampered the operation of the university by making parallel appointments to the position of Registrar even when he was on leave, among others.
“… The Vice Chancellor does not administer the university in accordance with the provisions of the law, statutes and ordinance of the University of Delhi, which has resulted in bad governance and a malfunction of the University of Delhi. This is not conducive to an adequate academic and administrative environment of the University ”, affirms the order of the ministry.
The Indian Express reported on October 24 that the Ministry of Education had tried in the past to build a case for Tyagi’s impeachment. Among the times this was discussed informally was when he failed to heed repeated reminders to fill teacher positions that were vacant for years, and his handling of last year’s teacher protest over ad hoc teacher re-election. The government had intervened to resolve the crisis.
Things came to a head last week when he went head-to-head with Joshi to appoint a new registrar. A day later, the government issued a strong directive snubbing Tyagi, declaring his contentious appointment to the Registrar position invalid as it was made during his leave of absence.
Interestingly, despite the government’s public rebuff towards Tyagi, PC Jha, who was appointed Registrar by the VC, wrote to the ministry last week on Friday insisting that his appointment followed the rules. The Ministry of Education then wrote to Joshi’s designated Registrar to order DU to initiate disciplinary action against Jha under the University Law.
Tyagi did not respond to calls seeking comment.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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