Students suffer as the row over FYUP at Delhi University escalates

The fate of thousands of students at Delhi University hang in confusion as the row over Four Year Undergraduate Programme or FYUP escalates to a new level.

  A day after University Grants Commission send an order to Delhi University to roll back its four-year undergraduate programme by tomorrow afternoon,  the UGC chairman Ved Prakash on Monday met HRD minister Smriti Irani and discuss the dead-lock.

The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) and several other student organisations like NSUI, ABVP, AIDSO, AISA, AISF, CYSS, DSU, INSO, KYS, NEFIS, PACHHAS, SFI and SYS have demanded roll back of the four-year programme and also insisted VC’s resignation.

It is learnt that the DU had also not taken the mandatory permission from the UGC before implementing the FYUP course.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani told media that she will not interfere in the matter and wanted the UGC and DU to resolve the matter very soon.

Former Delhi University Teachers’ Association president Aditya Narayan Mishra said that UGC’s interference into the autonomy of the university was under a threat.

“This crisis is of grave concern for all of us. The UGC can only advise DU. DU’s autonomy is being encroached upon under a conspiracy,” Mishra said.

“A central university such as Allahabad University also has 4 years programme. Six centrally funded institutions are also running 4 year courses. Why is DU being made an exception,” he added saying, “UGC is doing what new HRD minister Smriti Irani wants.”

Meanwhile the Congress is trying to politicizing the issue. Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari questioned the UGC’s motive

“Where was the UGC then if they had reservations? Why didn’t they advise the DU not to implement it. Has the UGC become a scapegoat? What’s going to happen to the students,” Tewari asked.

“If the BJP wanted to do this then they should have done it the day they were sworn in. Why wait till this time and play with the future of students? My difficulty is with the manner and timing of the decision. Universities build reputations over decades. What kind of a message are you sending out? They wanted to implement a manifesto promise, they should have done it when they took over so that there is clarity,” Tiwari added.

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