With Delhi University still on a defiant path, the University Grants Commission (UGC) tonight gave a fresh ultimatum to it to begin the admission process for the undergraduate classes dumping the controversial four-year course.
After long discussions between DU and UGC officials, the UGC issued the directive in the night in the wake of reservations among the colleges over implementing the three-year programme and starting the admission process.
Notwithstanding the UGC claim that 57 of the 64 colleges have accepted its directive, confusion reigned supreme over the admissions because the colleges felt they need clear cut guidelines from a "competent authority".
In the midst of all these developments, a move was initiated by a group of academicians, said to be supporters of DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh, in a bid to break the deadlock. They have proposed a three-year honours programme in place of the four-year course.
Senior HRD ministry officials said that the UGC has issued an ultimatum in the night to DU to start the admission process from tomorrow onwards after rolling back the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP).
There was no official reaction from the University but representatives of colleges expressed difficulty in implementing without clearance from the "competent" authority.
"We have agreed to the UGC's order in principle but we cannot move forward without the directive of the university. It is not an individual decision. There are too many steps," said S Lakshmi Devi, Secretary of DU Principals Association.
