FYUP issue: HRD min awaiting DU VC reply

With the deadline for DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh to reply to the show-cause notice of the HRD minister on the FYUP issue ending today, confusion remained whether he has communicated his response to the ministry.
While officials in the ministry said that they have received no reply from Singh till the evening, people close to VC Dinesh Singh said that he was busy drafting his reply with the help of his close associates to stick to the deadline.
HRD ministry had served the notice on Singh on March 17 giving him a fortnight to explain the circumstances under which he had introduced the controversial FYUP.

A few academicians in the university who had supported the VC in implementation of the controversial FYUP, maintained that the Delhi University does not confer any power on the ministry or on the government to recall the incumbent Vice Chancellor.
Singh's tenure comes to an end in October.
He is accused of implementing the FYUP without prior approval and financial and academic irregularities.

Delhi University Teacher's Association (DUTA) has launched a scathing attack on him ever since introduction of FYUP and has consistently demanded his removal, releasing a white paper in August last year exposing his alleged irregularities.
DUTA is also conducting a three-day public hearing inviting complaints and grievances of various stake holders against the VC.

Taking cognisance of the DUTA white paper, HRD ministry had asked the varsity to send a point-wise response to the allegations made in the document. A committee which was set up by the ministry to look into the alleged diversion of funds was also understood to have found the VC guilty in its report submitted to the ministry.
HRD ministry had also questioned the Vice Chancellor in January about the preparations made about the choice-based credit transfer scheme from the coming academic session and the launch of the Massive Open Online Courses. HRD ministry had also forwarded to the President a letter written by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury highlighting alleged irregularities by the VC in the varsity's functioning.