FYUP issue: AAP demands UGC chairman's resignation

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday demanded resignation of UGC chairman for allegedly allowing the introduction of FYUP and then forcing its roll back without consulting stake-holders.

"UGC chairman must step down for his dubious role in first allowing the introduction of FYUP and now forcing its rollback, and compromising the independence of the regulatory body," AAP said in a statement on Thursday.

"Any major policy shifts or innovations in higher education must not be introduced at the behest of political masters, any such change must happen after due deliberation and extensive consultation with a range of stake-holders, including students and teachers," AAP said.

However, the party also alleged that for all these days, the Delhi University violated the norms and conventions and the UGC turned a blind eye to the violations and demanded the resignation of the varsity VC as well.

"The Vice-Chancellor and a small coterie around him violated the norms and conventions of the University so as to push through a drastic change without due consultation and deliberation. The UGC shielded DU authorities by turning a blind eye to the multiple violations of the UGC Act and its Regulations and the National Policy on Education," AAP said.

"As the VC seeks to turn his personal whims into an issue of institutional autonomy, the UGC is acting post-haste to discover all the rules and regulations that it had disregarded last year," the statement said.

The VC, the Registrar and other key officials of the DU also must step down so as to own up their responsibility for the current mess, the party said.

Reiterating its stand, the party has demanded immediate reversal to the three-year programme, saying the admissions process for the current academic year must be re-opened by making appropriate adjustments for the transition back to the original scheme and giving students a fresh option.

"The interest of the students who took admission in FYUP last year and those who have applied for B Tech course this year must be protected by making appropriate adjustments," the party said.