New Delhi, June 25
Even as the UGC issued another order to the Delhi University tonight asking it to comply with its directions to rollback the controversial Four Year Undergraduate Programme by noon tomorrow and start admissions on the old 10+2+3 pattern, 
the DU appeared in no mood to oblige.

While DU’s resistance is clear, what’s unclear is why the UGC did not act against the varsity for a year since the implementation of FYUP if the programme was in violation of regulations?

The UGC has since June 20 been asking the DU to admit students on the 10+2+3 pattern saying FYUP’s 10+2+4 system violates the National Education Policy 1986 and also that DU did not obtain relevant approvals from its Visitor (President) for its ordinance on FYUP. President is the Visitor to all Central universities, including the DU and appoints the VCs.

The question is – why did the UGC let DU admit students to FYUP in July 2013? The answer lies in the two important developments last year: One in which HRD Ministry told the Delhi High Court that FYUP was in conformity with UGC’s regulations. Two, where UGC’s Secretary wrote to DU V-C Dinesh Singh saying a course’s duration can vary from varsity to varsity but it has to prescribe to the minimum standard of three year duration for the award of first degree – BA, BSc etc.

DU’s argument in this standoff is — FYUP prescribes to UGC standards as it allows students to exit with a BA degree after three years; only Honours seeking students must stay the fourth year. Ministry’s affidavit dated July 23, 2013 filed by Deputy Secretary CR Vatsala Hariharan in the HC in response to a PIL against FYUP, says two things: DU as an autonomous body can take academic decisions with the approval of the statutory bodies mentioned under its principal Act –Delhi University Act 1922; and DU’s FYUP is in conformity with the UGC’s (Minimum Standards of Institutions for Granting of the First Degree Through formal Education) Regulations 2003.

These regulations say that no student will be eligible for the first degree (say a BA) unless he has completed a programme of not less than three years and secured minimum credits prescribed by the university for grant of such degree.

The Ministry affidavit in response to a PIL by Forum of Indian Legists defends FYUP saying, “DU’s FYUP allows students to exit after two years with a diploma, after three years with a degree and after four years with an Honours degree. So it is in conformity with UGC regulations.”

The Ministry goes further to add that IITs, IISeRs, new law universities and some general universities offer five year integrated programmes with dual or single degree with no exit options or degrees after three years. The Ministry refused to interfere in the matter saying, “According to DU, it has followed all formal requirements as per the DU Act, Statute and Ordinances for introducing the FYUP from July 2013. So no ground exists for the Ministry to take an otherwise view.”

In a separate communication to DU’s VC on May 1, 2013, UGC’s Secretary Akhilesh Gupta wrote, “While the duration of the programme may vary from university to university, discipline to discipline as recommended by the Education Commission 1964, minimum duration of the course should be as per the provisions prescribed by relevant UGC regulations.”

Having taken these positions earlier, the UGC, with HRD Ministry’s backing, is now taking a different position. Though DU VC’s residence saw hectic activity today, some teachers pro FYUP said DU was on a sound footing.

Sanjay Verma, member, DU’s Academic Council, which cleared FYUP earlier, told The Tribune, “UGC Regulations prescribe minimum three years duration for BA. FYUP offers BA along with exit option after three years. Where is the violation? Moreover, HRD Ministry has said last year said that FYUP conforms to UGC regulations. Will Ministries alter their positions when ministers change? DU is a statutory body set up by an Act of Parliament. It passed the ordinance related to FYUP duly.”

HRD Minister Smriti Irani, meanwhile, has been saying she won’t interfere in the matter. But the fact is FYUP rollback is BJP’s poll promise. UGC’s directive to DU on the matter also followed meetings which Smriti had with members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and delegations opposing FYUP.

Yesterday BJP leaders Sidhartha Nath Singh and Nalin Kohli met Smriti in her office to discuss the FYUP issue. After the meeting, they said that DU VC had committed a fraud on students by running an illegal course and he should face an FIR for it. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court today decided to hear a PIL on the FYUP issue on July 1.