New Delhi: The Board of Management (BOM) of Delhi Technological University (DTU), formerly Delhi College of Engineering (DCE), met on Friday on the issue of ongoing students protest against the upgradation of DCE into DTU.

The Board Members were apprised of the situation prevailing in campus since March 4, 2010 when the students started their agitation followed by their boycott of the mid-semester examinations on March 15-16, 2010.

They were also informed that the agitating students have been given a hearing by the University authorities, Principal Secretary, Training & Technical Education and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Delhi and given an assurance that their genuine suggestions to add-on to the overall academic environment of the University will be considered by the authorities.

The BOM members had a detailed interaction with students, their leaders and teachers after which it came out with the following list of decisions:

1. The BOM understood the anxiety of the teachers of DCE who are now with DTU in respect of their service benefits including pension, GPF etc. and as such resolved that the necessary orders in respect of their continuation of such service benefits be issued by the government of Delhi by treating them on deemed deputation in DTU without any deputation allowance.

2. The major issue exercising the minds of the faculty is the delay in respect of the 6th Pay Commission implementation. In this respect, the BOM resolved that the pay revision of the teachers of DTU will be implemented as soon as the regulation for the pay revision is received from All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) through the government of Delhi.

3. The BOM took the note of the good progress made by the University during the last seven months. However, the BOM felt that the University should take the decision to further increase in intake only after ensuring the availability of physical and academic infrastructure.

4. The BOM made clear to the students’ community that upgradation of DCE to DTU is in their interest as this will significantly improve the quality of academic and professional services, ensure better quality of teaching-learning environment, regular updating of the course curriculum and will meet the requirement of quality faculty for the new and ongoing programs.

The Members of BOM also explained the rationale behind the conversion of DCE into DTU. It was also clarified that the upgradation of DCE to DTU has been done in the larger interest of the institution and that of its stakeholders and in the interest of the students’ community.

5. The BOM appealed to the students to restore normalcy so that their own academic interest are protected as continued agitation besides derailing the academic calendar, will affect their career adversely.

6. During the interactions with the students, the BOM noted that there are some misgivings on the functioning of the University, and their legitimate concerns are not being adequately addressed to, for which the BOM desired that:

(i) An appropriate consultative mechanism be put in place so that timely action is taken on the genuine grievances of the students and the faculty. It will be desirable to have a Standing Committee of the BOM for the redressal of the grievances of the students and faculty.

(ii) Two nominees of the students and two nominees of the teachers be invited as special invitee in the meetings of the Academic Council.

(iii) The mid-semester examinations, which have been rescheduled from March 29, 2010 should be held as per the schedule.

The BOM also resolved that those who do not appear in the rescheduled mid-semester examination will forfeit their mid-semester examinational marks and no further opportunity whatsoever will be given.

Further, those who have already appeared in the originally scheduled mid-semester examination will have the option to appear in the rescheduled mid-semester examination and in such cases, the higher of their two scores will be awarded.

7. The Board advised the Vice Chancellor in case there is need to suspend any faculty member, such cases should be placed before the BOM for decision.

8. The BOM also desired that the Posts of regular Registrar, Controller (Finance) etc. to be filled at the earliest.

9. No penal action be taken against those who joined the agitation if the agitating students resume their academic activities without further delay.