Litigation, confusion continue over Delhi varsity’s FYUP scheme

The row between the University Grants Commission and Delhi University over the newly introduced four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) today reached the Delhi High Court, where a litigation was filed for the restoration of the three-year degree course.

A Delhi University (DU) professor challenged the notification scrapping the FYUP in the Supreme Court - which however refused to consider the matter, asking him to move the High Court.

The PIL by advocate R K Kapoor sought an early resolution to the controversy, saying among other things, ''Most of the university's colleges are deferring admissions, leading to confusion among lakhs of aspirants.''

Professor Aditya Narayan Mishra, a former president of the DUTA (Delhi University Teachers' Association) president and an assistant professor at Aurbindo College, in his plea before the apex court, submitted that the FYUP is valid and the ordinance brought by the DU regarding this is consistent with UGC guidelines.

''Please go to high court. The high court would consider the matter and we would also have benefit of the reasoning of HC on the issue,'' a vacation bench headed by Justice Vikramajit Sen said when the matter was mentioned before it for urgent hearing.

Meanwhile there were conflicting reports about the resignation of Delhi University vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh over the FYUP plan.

While DU's media coordinator Malay Neerav said the V-C had resigned earlier in the day, he could not be reached for a comment after an adviser to Singh denied he had put in his papers. TV channels also reported that human resource development ministry had not received Singh's resignation letter.

A V-C's resignation letter is usually sent to the HRD ministry, which then passes it on to the president's office. In rare cases, the V-C can send his resignation papers directly to the President. Even in that case, the HRD ministry is informed as soon as the papers are received at the President's office, the TV reports said.