Prof Ved Kumari, tendered her resignation from the post of Dean and Head of Faculty of Law, Delhi University on Tuesday asserting non-cooperation of University Authorities and illegal/arbitrary actions of the Professor-in-Charge of Campus Law Centre as the predominant reasons.
Prof Ved Kumari resigned ahead of time, with three months still left in completion of her tenure. In her unsatisfactory letter of resignation addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, Prof Ved Kumari stated that she had not been able to secure the best interests of the Faculty of Law because of the administration’s passive behaviour on a number of issues.
She cited various reasons in her resignation letter, including the following :
- Students with 31%attendance are being allowed to write exams.They are also given marks for attendance by giving them additional attendance by maintaining fake records.
- No action against whimsical, arrogant behaviour of Professor in charge,Faculty of Law despite a list of complaints against her by students, faculty, non-teaching staff and Dean.
- Failure to ensure long due promotions for teachers.
- No office space for teachers to meet students and do their research.Tried opening teacher’s rooms in Umang Bhavan.
- Failure to pay the previous Section Officer, seven months salary.
- Failure to pay two Junior Assistants cum Typists (JACTs) associated with Dean’s office, which is understaffed without PA, Administrative Officer, Assistant, Senior Assistant.
- No Executive Council/Academic Council approval for recommendations made by Faculty of Law.
- Failure to invite experienced teacher from abroad for training of teachers in Clinical Legal Education.
- No action taken on the recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee regarding the assault of a teacher by a student.
These are just some of the issues she faced during her tenure of two years and nine months as Dean.In her letter, she states states that she has repeatedly tried bringing these matters to the attention of the administration through various modes of communication but to no avail.
In 2017, there were protests over students not being allowed to sit for exams for failing to meet the minimum attendance criteria, revaluation of exam papers and other issues.Back then, Prof Kumari had complained that students had entered her office and threatened her with dire consequences.High Court also intervened in the issue and criticised the inaction of the statuary authorities charged with responsibility of maintaining and enforcing Law and Order.
Prof Kumari signed off her resignation letter by “thanking” the administration for its non-cooperation.
