The humiliating manner in which the Delhi University Vice Chancellor, Yogesh Tyagi, has been placed under suspension by the Visitor, at the behest of the Education Ministry, has sent shockwaves throughout the university community. The unprecedented action, the result of a turf war between two factions of the ruling dispensation, has come barely a few months before the prestigious institution enters its centenary year. The blatant interference by the ministry, in favour of the Pro-Vice Chancellor, P.C. Joshi, who had been appointed to his post by the VC, a few months ago, is being seen as an infringement on the autonomy of the university. While there is near unanimity on the campus that Tyagi, during his four and half years in office, had proved to be a total failure, yet, the manner of his removal is something no one is prepared to endorse.
Tyagi had been appointed as the VC in 2016 and allowed important posts to remain vacant, perhaps believing that indecision would keep everyone happy and hopeful. However, in the suspension letter issued by the ministry, after obtaining the approval of the Visitor, President Ram Nath Kovind in this case, Tyagi has been accused of gross dereliction of duty and overstepping his authority, while being on leave. There is some truth in the charge since there are more than 5,000 posts of lecturers that need to be filled up and the university does not have a full-time Controller of Examination nor a Finance Office, a Dean of Colleges or a Director of South Campus. Even the PVC and Registrar were appointed, some months ago, casting a shadow over the functioning of the country’s premier university.
Tyagi, who was selected for the coveted post, did not draw his salary for a considerable period, since his last drawn wages in the South Asian University where he worked earlier, were more than the emoluments paid to the DU Vice Chancellor. For him the VC’s position of this esteemed portal of learning was secondary and financial considerations more sacrosanct. He has also been blamed for the non-constitution of the governing bodies in several colleges, thereby holding up vital decisions. Nevertheless, his worst critics also do not approve of the treatment meted out to him, and feel that he should have been asked to remain on leave till his successor was found. Teachers’ groups in the university believe that P.C. Joshi has been preferred by the government due to his proximity with the Education Minister; both are from the same region. This is not the way in which the issue should be looked at but the twist in the tale is that Joshi’s appointment was not ratified by the Visitor as was required by the statutes, and thus his being the acting VC was deemed to be illegal. This is a matter that should be clarified without any further delay. Tyagi is unlikely to get a clean chit since the Inquiry Committee looking into allegations against him, may not submit its report till March, when his tenure ends. What is likely to happen is that Joshi would order immediate filling of vacant posts, thus adjusting many academicians close to the ruling regime. The Executive Council would at his instance, finalise the names of two members of the search Committee for appointing the next VC, with the Visitor naming the third. Thus, the next VC would be chosen from a panel of names the ministry wants to be drawn up through this search committee. In this context, the chances of Joshi being selected would always remain very high.
The Delhi University has never faced such a situation in its nearly 100 years of existence. In the past 50 years, there have been several VCs, who were unable to complete their tenure. Prof K.N. Raj, the eminent economist, Dr Sarup Singh and Prof Upendra Buxi were amongst the VCs who left in the midst of their terms. The Centre should take note that the Delhi University has been the alma mater of some of the most distinguished personalities of our times. While former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh taught here, the current PM, Narendra Modi, was a student of this university in the late 1970s. Therefore, DU must get the respect it deserves and there should be no blemish on its fair name. It is arguably, the most well-regarded Indian university in the world.