New Delhi: The Democratic Teachers’ Front has written to the Yogesh Singh, the vice-chancellor of Delhi University, on the recent appointments of heads of departments that they believe have seen a departure from the principle of using seniority as a fundamental criterion.

The letter is signed by Abha Dev Habib, Mithuraaj Dhusiya, Rudrashish Chakraborty, Anumeha Mishra, Jitendra Meena, Monami Sinha, and Sanjeev Kaushal, all members of the Delhi University Teachers Association executive and academic councils.

The letter cites Ordinance XXIII which stipulates:

1. The Head of the Department shall be appointed by the Vice- Chancellor by observing, as far as possible, the principle of rotation. Such appointments shall be reported to the Executive Council.

2. Notwithstanding anything contained in Clause 1, if for any reason it has not been possible to appoint a person as Head of the Department who is senior to the person (persons) who has already served or is serving as Head of the Department, it shall be open to the Vice-Chancellor to appoint that person as Head of the Department whenever a vacancy next occurs if he can otherwise be so appointed.

The letter noted that while Clause 1 gives the vice-chancellor the authority to appoint a head, Clause 2 lays down the principle of seniority as an important criterion in determining these appointments.

“In the recent appointments of heads in the department of psychology and now, the Department of Hindi, this principle of seniority has been by-passed. The two professors who have been bypassed – Professor Eric Soreng in the Department of Psychology and Professor Apoorvanand in the Department of Hindi – have not been given any reason as to why they have not been considered to serve the institution in this capacity,” the DTF writes.

The supersession of Apoorvanand, a noted scholar and political commentator, had made waves earlier this year.

Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar had written how it has “become a memorable blot on the university’s record” and “will be an emblematic example of how, in recent years, the university has bent convention in the service of the government’s ideological agenda.”

Recently, the Delhi University also denied Apoorvanand leave to attend an academic event in New York where he was scheduled to speak. It reportedly asked him to submit the text of his speech.

The DTF calls the “use of discretionary powers” in the bypassing of Soreng and Apoorvanand “discriminatory and humiliating” and something that “can only be interpreted as vindictive actions against individuals.”

“We request you to adhere to the principle of seniority that is reiterated in the Ordinances and has been the practice in the University so far,” the writers say.