DU Administration Issues: 22 of 64 Colleges run by Acting Principals, OSDs

The University of Delhi comprises 64 non-professional colleges out of which 22 are administered either by acting principals or officers on special duty (OSD). Absence of administrators has led to a point were two colleges are being run by one principal.

P K Khurana has been serving as the principal of both morning and evening Shaheed Bhagat Singh College for the last four years. Morning and evening colleges in DU are considered separate entities comprising different offices, staff, libraries, etc.

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As per the rules laid down by DU, an acting principal or OSDs is appointed for a duration of six months, after which the post is filled permanently or the term of the acting principal is extended.

Even the most prestigious colleges of the university including Hindu College, Shri Ram College of Commerce and Hansraj College are run either by acting principals or OSDs. The last permanent principal SRCC had was in 2014 whereas Hindu College has not had a permanent principal since 2012. Delhi College for Arts and Commerce is being governed by an officer on special duty for the past three years.

Interviews have been conducted by the colleges and the names of potential candidates was sent to the university but no approvals have been sent by the university. It is the college’s as well as the university’s responsibility to interview candidates and shortlist those who can serve as the principals. However, both teachers as well as principals selected by the university are hired on ad-hoc basis, leaving the permanent seats vacant.

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Some colleges have not started advertising the vacancy for the recruitment of principals. This is one of the many reasons that the colleges affiliated to DU are having administration issues.