Delhi University capitulates, agrees to 3-yr course

"In line with the directive of the UGC the University has decided to roll back the FYUP. Consequently the admission process shall be conducted under the scheme of courses that were in force in the academic session 2012-13 in all the colleges of the University of Delhi," the Delhi University said.

The admission process, which was stalled due to the DU-UGC standoff, will now start in colleges under the varsity.

"The University of Delhi recognises the need of the hour. It is of paramount importance to protect the students by ensuring the start of the admission process," Delhi University Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh said in a statement.

"It is expected that the Principals of our colleges shall assist in devising and ensuring a speedy completion of the admission process," he said.

Earlier, the UGC had rejected a new proposal sent by the Delhi University (DU) where the latter said it wants the three-year course be implemented in such a manner that an honours degree will be given on its completion.

Instead, the UGC asked the DU to start the admissions to the 3-year-course on Friday itself.

The DU on Thursday sent a proposal to the UGC where an honours will be given in three years and the last year will be kept for research.

"If the University Grants Commission agrees to this proposal, then we won't need a lot of time to implement it and begin admissions," DU PRO Malay Neerav had told reporters.

"The UGC has been writing letters to us asking us to go back to the three-year course and now we have said that it will take a lot of time if these courses have to be converted to three years," he said.

The DU did not start its admission process for the third consecutive day on Thursday despite UGC directive. 

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday had refused to give an urgent hearing to two cross petitions over the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) row.

A vacation bench of justices Pratibha Rani and V Kameswar Rao said, "The matter requires effective hearing which can't be done by a vacation bench. It will be heard by the roster bench in July."

"We understand the situation. The admissions will not be affected. There will only be a few days' delay," the bench said.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to intervene into the FYUP row and directed the Delhi High Court to take up the case.

Former DU Teachers Association president Aditya Narayan Mishra had approached the apex court against the UGC order on scrapping the FYUP.

The UGC on June 22 directed the Delhi University and all colleges under it to admit students only under the three-year programme and not under FYUP.

The UGC also warned the institutions of facing 'consequences' if its directions are not followed by them.