Yogesh Singh, vice-chancellor of Delhi University, said on Thursday that the university will continue to affiliate with 12 of its funded by the state institutions.
The vice-chancellor’s declaration was in reaction to the AAP-led Delhi government’s reluctance to fund these institutions unless they joined the state universities.
Delhi Education Minister Atishi complained to the Centre in December last year about suspected financial irregularities in these 12 institutions.
“We are committed to our stand,” Mr Singh told PTI, adding that he hoped the state government would continue financially supporting the 12 colleges viewing the interest of students.
Asked about a letter written by Mr Singh to Atishi addressing the issue, the Delhi government denied receiving any such communication.
“We have not received any letter from the Delhi University as of now. The Delhi government will only provide funding to these colleges once they are de-affiliated from DU and become part of one of Delhi’s state universities,” the Delhi government said in a statement to PTI on Thursday.
The Delhi administration has stated that it will not release funding for the academic year 2024-25 to the 12 colleges unless they are completely transferred under the state.
It added that if the de-merger does not take place, the funding of these colleges will have to come from the Centre or the University Grants Commission.
“Funding will categorically not be granted unless these colleges are transferred, given the irregularities in these colleges,” it added.
However, on Thursday, the Delhi University made public the VC’s letter to Atishi dated January 16.
In the letter, Singh requested that the minister remove her letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and maintain financing for the 12 colleges in the interest of students.
“I request yourself (Atishi) the DO letter dated 01.12.2023 may please be withdrawn and continuity of funding to these colleges may not be disturbed in the interest of students of Delhi,” the letter read.
In the letter to the education minister, the vice-chancellor further stated that the de-affiliation could not take place since these institutions are constituent colleges of the University of Delhi under the Delhi University Act 1922, which was approved by Parliament.
It went on to say that the DU Executive Council agreed at its meeting on December 15, 2023, that all 12 colleges are constituent institutions of the university, hence the topic of their de-affiliation does not arise.
Earlier last year, Atishi wrote to the Centre, citing “irregularities” in 12 Delhi University colleges supported by the city government.
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