HC asks DUTA president to resolve issue amicably with DU

Delhi High Court today asked DUTA President Nandita Narain, who has sought a stay on the move by Delhi University to initiate inquiry against her for allegedly interfering into the functioning of three colleges, to resolve the issue amicably.
"You (Narain) try and resolve the issue amicably as we do not want that this kind of matter remains in public domain for long," Justice Siddharth Mridul said.
The court's oral direction came after it was informed by the counsel for the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) President, who is also a professor at the St Stephen's College, that they have approached the Vice Chancellor's office and there was a chance of arriving at an amicable resolution.

The counsel submitted that "arbitrary and illegal" inquiry proceedings were initiated against her by the varsity at the behest of former Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh and then St Stephen's principal Valson Thampu, of whom Narain has been a vocal critic.
Since both of them have vacated office, "we have no more grievances," the counsel said.
Following this, the court asked them to try to settle the issue and fixed the matter for hearing on September 29.

Earlier, the high court had restrained Delhi University from taking any action against Narain, who has sought a stay on the move to initiate inquiry proceedings against her for allegedly interfering in the functioning of the colleges.

Narain, who was to appear before a fact-finding committee constituted by the university to examine the complaints against her, kept away from the meeting and moved the court on October 20 last year.
She has been at loggerheads with Singh and Thampu and leading a campaign demanding their removal from office over allegations of financial and administrative irregularities.