Don’t allow DU appointments during model code, Delhi minister Manish Sisodia tells EC

In letter to EC, Manish Sisodia claims that teaching & non-teaching appointments made in absence of governing bodies could be misused to seek political favours.

File photo | Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia addressing a press conference at the party office in New Delhi | PTI

New Delhi: Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia has asked the Election Commission to not permit appointments to Delhi University colleges funded by the state government while the model code of conduct is in effect.

He made the appeal in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora Tuesday, a day after the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) sought the poll panel’s nod to conduct hiring for central universities despite the model code, citing the delay suffered on account of the quota formula imbroglio.

In the letter, Sisodia has pointed to the fact that several colleges currently don’t have governing bodies, the college-specific groups that handle matters related to appointments and are mandated to include representatives of the city-state’s elected government (currently, led by the Aam Aadmi Party) as well as the respective institute.

In recent times, many Delhi University colleges have not given extensions to their governing bodies, which means the institutes don’t have the groups — Sisodia has noted the fact in his letter, also claiming that, in some colleges, the bodies hadn’t been appointed at all.

“In regards to Delhi, governing bodies in colleges have not been formed despite repeated requests by the Delhi government,” Sisodia states in the letter, which has been accessed by ThePrint.

‘Don’t let proposal pass’

It is the responsibility of the university administration — which in Delhi University’s case is under the central government — to make sure that governing body members are appointed regularly and the existing ones given an extension.

Sisodia has claimed in his letter that unilateral teaching and non-teaching appointments made in the absence of governing bodies may be misused to seek political favours.

“The non-formation of governing body in time raises doubts of unethical means and corruption in appointments. It could also be done to gain political favours at the time of elections.”

“Given this background, the Delhi government does not agree to the MHRD’s proposal for completing the appointment process of teaching and non-teaching staff in Delhi University colleges either partially or fully funded by the state government till the time of the elections when the model code of conduct is on,” Sisodia added in the letter.

“The Election Commission should not let any such proposal pass,” the letter added.