Delhi University (DU) is not only India’s largest and most prestigious Central university, home to several top colleges of the country, it is also the most politically active. However, what is happening in DU right now is unprecedented in its 98-year history as President Ram Nath Kovind has ordered an enquiry against Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi on the grounds of “misconduct” and “dereliction of duty.” Tyagi has been suspended till the inquiry is completed since he can influence the investigation while in office. Much of this has been precipitated by the health of the Vice-Chancellor, who had to be admitted to AIIMS on emergency grounds back in July and a Pro-VC, Professor PC Joshi, had to be appointed. However, after Tyagi returned to work, he tried to invalidate several appointments made by the Pro-VC, even those that had been cleared by DU’s Executive Council. The row escalated when Tyagi appointed Professor PC Jha as the interim Registrar despite the Union Ministry of Education’s claims that the new order was not effective as the VC was still on leave while issuing it. However, the Executive Council resolved that Professor Suman Kundu would continue as Director, South Campus and acting Registrar till a permanent Registrar was appointed. This was followed by Tyagi removing Professor Joshi as Pro-VC and appointing Geeta Bhatt in his place. Meanwhile Joshi had notified the appointment of a new Registrar, Vikas Gupta, whose interview had been completed and appointment cleared by the Executive Council. This is a truly bizarre and ridiculous situation, particularly when the 2020-2021 academic year is about to start. By initiating an enquiry against Tyagi and completely clipping his wings, his term is as good as over. However, the Ministry should take its fair share of the blame here. When the VC was admitted to hospital in an emergency condition, it should have stepped in to put a system in place. At the same time, it has consistently overlooked past lapses flagged against Tyagi, including not filling vacant positions, delay in redressal of sexual harassment cases and vigilance complaints in university, mishandling of the issue of ad-hoc teachers, which led to a massive agitation, and non-submission of detailed plan for implementation of the Institution of Eminence (IoE). The last straw came in the form of certain appointments he made while being on medical leave.

This mess needs to be immediately rectified by the Ministry and if Tyagi is to be removed, a new VC must be found post-haste. This is a situation that is unprecedented and if elections and a pandemic were not ongoing, this would be the top headline of the day. This development is not surprising after decades of Ministers and bureaucrats striking at the autonomy of Central universities. Institutions of higher learning thrive when they are allowed to function independent of the Government and where the V-C is prided for his integrity and not seen as a political appointee.

Delhi University (DU) is not only India’s largest and most prestigious Central university, home to several top colleges of the country, it is also the most politically active. However, what is happening in DU right now is unprecedented in its 98-year history as President Ram Nath Kovind has ordered an enquiry against Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi on the grounds of “misconduct” and “dereliction of duty.” Tyagi has been suspended till the inquiry is completed since he can influence the investigation while in office. Much of this has been precipitated by the health of the Vice-Chancellor, who had to be admitted to AIIMS on emergency grounds back in July and a Pro-VC, Professor PC Joshi, had to be appointed. However, after Tyagi returned to work, he tried to invalidate several appointments made by the Pro-VC, even those that had been cleared by DU’s Executive Council. The row escalated when Tyagi appointed Professor PC Jha as the interim Registrar despite the Union Ministry of Education’s claims that the new order was not effective as the VC was still on leave while issuing it. However, the Executive Council resolved that Professor Suman Kundu would continue as Director, South Campus and acting Registrar till a permanent Registrar was appointed. This was followed by Tyagi removing Professor Joshi as Pro-VC and appointing Geeta Bhatt in his place. Meanwhile Joshi had notified the appointment of a new Registrar, Vikas Gupta, whose interview had been completed and appointment cleared by the Executive Council. This is a truly bizarre and ridiculous situation, particularly when the 2020-2021 academic year is about to start. By initiating an enquiry against Tyagi and completely clipping his wings, his term is as good as over. However, the Ministry should take its fair share of the blame here. When the VC was admitted to hospital in an emergency condition, it should have stepped in to put a system in place. At the same time, it has consistently overlooked past lapses flagged against Tyagi, including not filling vacant positions, delay in redressal of sexual harassment cases and vigilance complaints in university, mishandling of the issue of ad-hoc teachers, which led to a massive agitation, and non-submission of detailed plan for implementation of the Institution of Eminence (IoE). The last straw came in the form of certain appointments he made while being on medical leave.

This mess needs to be immediately rectified by the Ministry and if Tyagi is to be removed, a new VC must be found post-haste. This is a situation that is unprecedented and if elections and a pandemic were not ongoing, this would be the top headline of the day. This development is not surprising after decades of Ministers and bureaucrats striking at the autonomy of Central universities. Institutions of higher learning thrive when they are allowed to function independent of the Government and where the V-C is prided for his integrity and not seen as a political appointee.