University of Delhi Faces Legal Challenge Over Alleged Violation of UGC Regulations [Read Order]

Delhi: In a legal development, a research scholar and OBC community member from Bihar, currently studying at the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, has filed a petition against the University of Delhi. The petitioner contends that the university has violated Clause 13.0 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2018, which limits the appointment of teachers on a contractual basis.

The petitioner, a top-performing law graduate, asserts that despite sending representations to the university officials, the institution went ahead and advertised 70 guest faculty positions in the Faculty of Law alone on October 11, 2023. This move allegedly exceeds the prescribed 10% limit for contractual staff, as mandated by UGC regulations.

The legal action also draws attention to the petitioner's concerns about the Faculty of Law's overall staffing composition, revealing that over 35% of teaching staff were recently recruited on a temporary basis, breaching UGC guidelines.

The petitioner seeks the enforcement of UGC regulations, citing fundamental rights under Articles 14 & 16 of the Constitution of India, and urges compliance with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Memorandum. The case gains significance in light of a recent Supreme Court order expressing concern over the prevalence of contractual teachers in national law universities.

The University of Delhi is yet to respond officially to these allegations. The petitioner's legal challenge raises broader questions about adherence to regulations and the appointment of teaching staff in higher education institutions across the country.

[Read Order]