News Analysis India

Tag: Delhi University

  • Teachers oppose Delhi University’s decision to hold entrance exams for UG admissions from 2022

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Expressing unhappiness over Delhi University’s decision to hold entrance exams for undergraduate courses from next year, teachers said on Friday that it will promote the coaching industry and deprive students of getting access to good education.

    They also said that the university was rushing into the decision without taking into consideration the fact that students’ education suffered due to the Covid pandemic.

    The Delhi University Executive Council on Friday passed the proposal to implement Common Entrance Test from the 2022-23 academic session.

    Two members had dissented against the proposal.

    Delhi University Teachers’ Association president AK Bhagi said, “The committee that was formed to look at the admission process did not have teachers who teach at the undergraduate level. The university should not have rushed into the move and consulted the stakeholders, including the students’ union. This is likely to create problems and can prove to be disadvantageous for those from economically weaker sections who cannot afford coaching and even for women from smaller villages.”

    The university has to be careful while working out modalities of holding entrance tests and has to do it with precision, he added.

    Pankaj Garg, chairman, Indian National Teachers’ Congress (INTEC) said entrance tests will deprive students from smaller towns and economically weaker sections from getting access to undergraduate courses.

    “They have been kept away from professional education and now we will deprive them of even this? Students have to come to metros for coaching for professional courses. How will their parents manage? Even if some of the parents manage to do so, what about others?” Garg said.

    He also said that the nine-member committee has only recommended entrance tests as a solution for the regional skew in the wake of a large number of admissions from the Kerala Board.

    “There has been no discussion on how the entrance exams will be held, whether there will be separate exams for each course and how things will be worked out for those students who want to change streams. Currently, students from science can opt for arts courses and even commerce but how will things be planned for them,” he asked.

    Gary said he was a member of a committee in 2017 constituted by the then vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi to study the entrance exam system.

    The committee at that time had suggested that a pilot project should be undertaken under which entrance exams to one course under every stream be held.

    “DU is planning to introduce entrance exams without planning and it will lead to problems,” he said.

    Garg said the university is rushing to implement provisions of the National Education Policy.

    Abha Dev Habib, secretary of the Democratic Teachers’ Front, said it was a rushed decision.

    “This is being done because the pressure is coming to implement NEP. Soon, a one line resolution will be passed that Delhi University will go for the Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET). It is a commercial model and students will be forced to take coaching,” she said.

    “This will push admissions into the pocket of the urban population,” she opined.

    “Students have been learning through online modes and hardly any teaching-learning is happening. I think that once the situation normalises, the university should rethink its decision,” Habib stressed.

    Rajesh Jha of the Academics For Action and Development (AAD) echoed similar views as his fellow teachers.

    He said they have been opposed to entrance tests right from the beginning as only English-medium, urban and privileged students will have access to Delhi University.

  • Delhi University to hold entrance exams for admissions from 2022: Officials

    The executive council is the highest decision-making body of the university and despite dissent by some members of the council, it approved the proposal to hold entrance tests.

  • Delhi University issues guidelines against ragging in colleges

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With the classes for first-year undergraduate courses beginning on November 22, the Delhi University on Thursday issued guidelines against ragging directing the placing of sealed complaint boxes in front of principal’s office and constitution of vigilance squads in colleges.

    Colleges will hold orientation days for the new students to acquaint them with their respective colleges and departments.

    Miranda House will be holding its orientation through online mode on November 20 and students will also be given a virtual tour of the college.

    The Shri Ram College of Commerce, Indraprastha College For Women, Gargi College and Ramanujan College will be holding their orientation days on November 22.

    Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences will hold its convocation on November 20.

    Departments will also be holding their separate orientation programmes for the freshers.

    The orientation programmes will be held in online mode and the classes will also be held in virtual mode.

    The anti-ragging guidelines stated that the heads of institutions may identify a Disciplinary Resource Person (DRP) in each college, hostel, hall, department and their contact details must be shared with the proctor’s office.

    “The institutions may erect suitable hoardings/bill boards/banners in prominent places within the respective campus to exhort the students to prevent or not to indulge in ragging….Along with the DRP, senior teachers, NCC/NSS officers, if any, and senior students may be involved to form a Disciplinary Resource Committee (DRC)/Disciplinary Committee at the college/faculty/department level,” they said.

    They also suggested the constitution of vigilance squads in addition to DRC/DC, taking help of NCC/NSS student volunteers to keep constant vigil to avoid cases of indiscipline among students and to prevent untoward incidents.

    “Sealed complaint boxes be placed in front of the Principal’s Office, especially in those undergraduate colleges which have hostels, for the benefit of the potential victims of ragging to enable them to put their complaints/suggestions to College authorities. Officials in each college on whom the responsibility has been entrusted will look into those complaints and take prompt necessary action, as per University norms,” the guidelines said.

    The vigilance squads and the DRC/DC must act in complete coordination because ultimately action with regard to any incident of indiscipline involving any student or group of students will be recommended by the DRC/DC and thereupon respective the head of Institution will initiate the disciplinary action, it said.

    “Each student is expected to carry his/her own identity card. Entry to the institution should be strictly governed on the verification of the identity cards carried by students. To enforce such regulated entry, Security Guards and other associated staff may be engaged.”

    “Such security staff along with the vigilance squads may organise, from time to time, some surprise raids on the premises of cafeteria/canteen/hostels/student union rooms/general common rooms/parking lots etc,” the guidelines said.

    They also suggested introduction of personal consultant/mentor in colleges and departments and attaching of all new entrants, either individually and collectively in a group to a specific faculty member who should devote a little time to overcome any emotional problems resulting from adjustment to a new environment.

    “Ideally speaking, a student of science discipline should be such as humanities or commerce and vice-versa,” they said.

    They also said that specific care should be taken to avoid harassment of any student on the basis of caste, sex, religion and said that in this case, preventive actions are more important than punitive actions.

  • Delhi University approves implementation of NEP from 2022-23 session

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi University on Tuesday approved the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), and four-year undergraduate programme at its executive council meeting, according to a senior official.

    Registrar Vikas Gupta said that NEP will be implemented from the 2022-23 academic session.

    He said three members dissented against the implementation.

    The implementation of the NEP and four-year undergraduate programme were approved by the Standing Committee on Academic Matters and the Academic Council last week.

    The multiple entry/exit scheme (MEES), where students will be able to enter and exit the programme at various stages, and the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) were also approved at the meeting.

    The EC, which is the highest decision-making body of the university, approved the MEES and ABC.

    The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) held an online protest on Tuesday against the implementation of the NEP.

  • DU backs exclusions of works of Dalit writers, Mahasweta Devi; not all are convinced

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  A day after controversy erupted over the exclusion of works by two Dalit writers and a short story by Mahasweta Devi from its English syllabus, Delhi University’s administration insisted that the criticism was “misplaced and unfounded”.

    DU’s oversight committee had removed two Dalit feminist writers — Bama and Sukhirtharini — from the women’s writing course and dropped an acclaimed short story called Draupadi by Mahasweta Devi from its BA English syllabus.

    Fifteen members of the university’s academic council had on Wednesday submitted a note of dissent to the university administration, calling these changes arbitrary and “casteist”.

    “A careful perusal of the present syllabus clearly brings out the inclusive nature of the syllabus under reference in terms of its diversity of content and inclusion of pioneering works of various renowned scholars of both national and international fame without consideration of their religion, caste and creed as, according to the university, excellence in academia is not subservient to these attributes,” said a DU statement, signed by registrar Vikas Gupta.

    Following the statement, Abha Dev Habib, treasurer of Delhi University Teachers’ Association, said defence of the oversight committee is evidence that the administration is complicit in unethical and unacademic chopping of authors.

    “It is a matter of extreme shame and concern that the oversight committee comprising senior academics has become an instrument to impose censorship on courses and readings as per the diktat of RSS-BJP,” she said.

    Three other members of the academic council issued a statement saying that classroom space should be sensitive to social, economic and cultural diversities of places students come from and that includes a curriculum with representation to the marginal voices.

  • DU cut-offs likely to be higher as more students score above 95 per cent in CBSE class 12 exams

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: With over 70,000 students scoring more than 95 per cent in CBSE Class 12 Boards, the Delhi University cut-offs are going to be on the higher side than previous years, according to college principals.

    They said the exact picture will be clear once the registration starts but were unanimous in predicting higher cut-offs than last year.

    The registration process for nearly 70,000 seats available for undergraduate courses will start on August 2. Anju Srivastava, principal, Hindu College, said they will go by the scores in the state boards, CBSE and ISC boards.

    “With the high number of students scoring more than 95 per cent, we have no choice but to keep the cut-offs on the higher side. We have limited number of seats for every course and despite the very high cut-offs, we end up admitting students above the sanctioned strength. If the student is meeting the cut-off and the eligibility criterion, we have to give them admission,” she added. Rama Sharma, principal, Hansraj College, said they will wait for the full data to appear.

    “It will be studied. It will increase than last year but whether the increase will be 0.5 per cent or one per cent and for which course, it will have to be seen. Also, some popular courses like B.Com (Hons), BA (Hons) English, Political Science (Hons) are likely to see higher cut-offs,” she said.

    Manoj Sinha, principal of Aryabhatta College, said the exact picture will be clear when the applications come but he said the cut-offs are expected to soar this year.

    Rajeev Gupta, chairperson, Admissions, said the first cut-off list is likely to be released between September 8-10.

    Last year, LSR had pegged the cut-offs for three courses at 100 per cent. “The respective admission committees of colleges will analyse the trend. It is difficult to say at this point but seeing the numbers, the cut-offs are going to be higher. The admissions happen on the basis of best of three or best of four subjects and students usually have 100 per cent scores in them,” he said.

    He said a large percentage of students also clear NEET and JEE exams and opt for those choices.

    “CBSE has given option to students that they can appear for physical exams if they are not satisfied with their results. Also there is a possibility that students might not get marksheets from their respective boards. We will provide adequate time to students for updation of marks in case they do not have their marks available with them,” he added.

    LSR principal Suman Sharma said they will have a meeting with their college officials over cut-offs and noted that it is too early to comment.

    The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recorded the highest ever pass percentage of 99.37 in this year’s class 12 results, declared on Friday, with girls outshining boys by a slender margin of 0.54 per cent.

    The pass percentage increased by over 10 percentage points against last year’s 88.78 per cent. The difference between the pass percentage of girls and boys was nearly six per cent last year.

    The number of candidates scoring above 95 per cent has increased from 38,686 last year to 70,004 this year.

    However, the number of candidates scoring between 90-95 per cent has gone down from 1,57,934 to 1,50,152.

  • Bombay HC seeks Elgar Parishad-accused Hany Babu’s medical report

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed a private hospital here to submit the latest health report of Delhi University associate professor Hany Babu, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.

    Babu was shifted from the Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai to the Breach Candy hospital following the high court’s order in May this year. His lawyer Yug Chaudhry had told the court in May that Babu suffered from multiple ailments including a severe eye infection.

    He had also tested positive for COVID-19 after his arrest in July 2020, but had recovered from the viral infection before being admitted to the private hospital. The high court is hearing a petition filed by Babu’s wife Jenny Rowenna seeking his release on bail on health grounds.

    On Thursday, advocate Payoshi Roy, who appeared for Babu, told a bench of Justices SS Shinde and N J Jamadar that he had “largely recovered” from the eye ailment. “We are not pressing for further reliefs and the court may call for a doctors’ report from the hospital,” advocate Roy said.

    Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who appeared for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), said it had no objection to that. The HC then directed the hospital to submit a report in a sealed envelope before the next hearing on August 6.

    The case relates to the Elgar Parishad held in Pune on December 31, 2017. Pune police had alleged that ‘provocative’ speeches there led to caste violence at Bhima Koregaon war memorial the next day, and the Parishad (conclave) itself was backed by Maoists.

  • UGC asks educational institutions to put up banners thanking PM for free vaccination: Sources

    In a WhatsApp message sent to various university officials Sunday, UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain also asked the institutions to share the banners on their social media pages.

  • Elgar case: HC asks hospital not to discharge Hany Babu till June 1; seeks report on his condition

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the Breach Candy Hospital here not to discharge Delhi University associate professor Hany Babu, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, till June 1 and sought a medical report on his condition and treatment given to him.

    A vacation bench of Justices S S Shinde and N R Borkar said if the private hospital was to discharge Babu before June 1, then it shall first inform the court and take permission.

    Babu tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month and was initially brought from the Taloja prison in neighbouring Navi Mumbai to the government-run J J Hospital here.

    He was later shifted to the GT Hospital in Mumbai.

    His wife Jenny Rowena subsequently filed a petition in the HC seeking interim bail and medical aid for him.

    Their counsel Yug Chaudhry had argued that Babu developed a severe eye infection and ran the risk of losing vision in his left eye.

    On May 19, the HC permitted Babu to be shifted to the Breach Candy Hospital in south Mumbai for medical treatment at his own cost.

    On Thursday, Chaudhry sought an urgent hearing of the petition, saying Babu should not be discharged from the hospital and sent back to jail.

    “From May 3 to May 12, the prison authorities systematically ignored his (Babu) complaint of eye infection. Currently, he is being treated at the Breach Candy Hospital. Our only request is he should not be discharged and sent back to jail on the ground that he does not require critical care anymore,” Chaudhry said.

    When the bench asked if Babu’s eye ailment was the new black fungus infection, also known as mucormycosis, Chaudhry said the hospital had checked, but they (Babus family or lawyer) do not know whether it is a fungal infection or a bacterial infection.

    The bench then said the hospital should submit to the court an interim report on Babu’s condition and the treatment provided to him.

    “This mucormycosis is a serious infection that affects the life of a person. This is very dangerous. We need to find out if he is getting proper treatment,” Justice Shinde said.

    The bench also noted that injections for this new post-COVID-19 ailment (mucormycosis) were available only at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and state-run hospitals.

    “Today, we read somewhere that the BMC was now supplying the injections for black fungus to private hospitals too. We need to know if the Breach Candy Hospital has those injections,” Justice Shinde said.

    The court also said the state government and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is conducting a probe into the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, should not take this petition in an adversarial manner.

    “The hospital shall submit an interim report on the medical treatment been given to Hany Babu by June 1. Till then, the hospital is requested not to discharge him. If they do then, this court should be informed and permission should be taken,” the HC said.

    The bench will hear the matter next on June 1.

    Babu was arrested by the NIA in July 2020.

    The Elgar Parishad case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made at a conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in the district.

    The Pune police claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists.

    The case was later taken over by the NIA.

    Several other activists, including Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao, had been arrested in the case.

  • Bhima Koregaon case: Accused professor Hany Babu tests positive for COVID-19

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hany Babu, the jailed Delhi University professor, has been tested positive for COVID-19.  The professor was already suffering from an acute eye infection and his health condition has worsened with the COVID infection, according to his wife Jenny Rowena.

    Hany Babu is being treated at the JJ Hospital, Mumbai, now. His wife has appealed to the authorities to shift him to a multi-speciality hospital where treatment for both his ailments can be given. Hany Babu is an undertrial prisoner in the Bhima Koregaon case. He was arrested in July 2020 and has been housed at the Taloja jail in Mumbai since then.

    “Hany has little or no vision in his left eye due to the swelling, which has spread to the cheek, ear and forehead compromising other vital organs as well. It poses a significant risk to his life if it spreads to the brain,” said a press statement issued by his wife.

    It was only after persistent efforts by Hany’s lawyer Payoshi Roy that Hany was taken to JJ Hospital on May 12. On May 13, Jenny Rowena received a phone call from Taloja Prison and was informed that Hany had been admitted at JJ Hospital.