A Delhi University's professor's RTI inquiry has revealed that Hindu College has appointed a "Project Consultant" when there is no post that goes by that name, as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) rules.
Assistant professor Atul Gupta, who is the crusader behind the investigation and has received numerous threats for his actions, says this is a complete breach of the trust of the people. "It is a public university and has people's money involved in it. What gives them the rights to use this to appoint anyone they want?" he asks.
The RTI reads as follows: It appears that no such post on the website of the University, www.du.ac.in under the head 'Useful Links' - 'Rules for Non-teaching employees' and 'Act, Statuses and Policies'.
However, SNP Punj, who seems to be directly responsible for appointing Dr Ashok Mittal, an ex-employee of the college to the above-mentioned post, refuses to acknowledge that he has received any such RTI.
When informed about the response and inquiry, he said, "I hold the rights to appoint anyone as my advisor. It is not a post to be advertised on the website," he said.
Professor Atul, on the other hand, is determined to "expose this corruption in the system". "How can someone appoint a person and pay his fee from public money. It is wrong and now that we have substantial proof, we are going to protest against the move. Dr Mittal should step down," he said.
Atul also takes this opportunity to mention that Hindu College has always discouraged "democratic activities" on the campus and "threatened the students and teachers" who have protested against its dictatorship.
The protest will start next week sometime and it will also challenge the College's application for autonomy. "Delhi University has accommodated students from all the backgrounds. With autonomy, the fee will be hiked ten times and a lot of students won't be able to get to the campus," he concludes.
