Delhi's Daulat Ram College gets court' nod to appoint principal

The Delhi High Court Monday cleared the way for Daulat Ram College of Delhi University to appoint a regular principal in place of its acting principal who is the sister of BJP leader Vijay Goel, and accused of various acts of misconduct.

The Delhi University informed Justice Rajiv Shakdher that it has issued a notification on appointment of a regular principal in the college.

It said the notification was issued March 7 after an executive council meeting for the qualification and appointment process of a principal was held.

Justice Shakdher thus disposed off the plea asking the college to appoint new principal.

Daulat Ram College moved the high court seeking removal of Daya Aggarwal, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader's sister, who has been serving as acting principal of the college since Feb 2, 2013.

The college said Aggarwal's term as acting principal expired on Feb 12 this year and her continuation in the post without approval and sanction of the governing body is "illegal" and "without authority".

It also alleged that DU was also interfering in appointment of its principal and even threatened the college in case Aggarwal was not re-appointed the acting principal.

"Delhi University's insistence that Aggarwal hold the post of acting principal despite her non-suitability was solely to provide the university with a foothold in the college to allow it to exercise control over the college and impinge upon the autonomy of the college," it claimed.

It further alleged that Aggarwal did not have accounts of the college audited which led to the the University Grants Commission stopping the second installment of the grant to the college.

Aggarwal then proceeded to make "unauthorised transfer of Rs. 2 crore" each in September and October from students fee funds, without the permission of governing body in order to pay the teachers' salaries for two months, it said.

Aggarwal also refused to pay various bills in the college hostel and as well as salaries of the matron and other employees, it alleged.

The college repeatedly brought various instances of Aggarwal's misconduct to the attention of the DU so that she could be removed from the post in the interest of students and the college but said that despite numerous letters and representations, the university failed to take any action.

It said that Aggarwal was appointed as acting principal of the college as being the senior most teacher of the college after retirement of the principal and thereafter, the vice principal.

"The college had appointed a regular principal in 2007, however, in 2010, as the principal was due to retire, the college advertised the vacancy.

"Upon making the advertisement, the University vide its letter dated Sep 28, 2010 informed the college that new qualifications for the post of principal, notified under the UGC regulations, had not been placed before the executive council of the University (for making the relevant amendments to the ordinance of the DU Act) and as such the application of a new principal be kept in abeyance."

The college had to appoint an acting principal for terms of six months each on temporary basis and Aggarwal was appointed on Feb 2, 2013 though wholly unsuitable for the post, it said.