Dear Alumni,                                                                       Dated : 20 -7-09

I hope you are all aware by now that a Bill has been passed by Delhi Assembly to convert DCE into Delhi Technological University (DTU). Although, on paper a non affiliating University, this University in future would be adding other Engineering Colleges of Govt. of Delhi and other private Engineering Colleges as its constituent colleges. The arguments being given in favour of this change are that DCE would get academic and administrative autonomy and it would become easy and faster to recruit faculty ,get the syllabus revised and introduce new courses.In the bill (The Delhi Technological University Bill 2009), two of the Country’s most reputed constitutional bodies like the Delhi University and the UPSC have been blamed , for all the ills affecting DCE. To influence and hoodwink Delhiwallahs, it is being said that they will double the intake of students and that this will benefit them. It is also being highlighted that this move is in line with the recommendations of Prof. Yash Pal Committee.

2. This move of Govt. of Delhi is tantamount to degrading DCE instead of upgrading it. This is so because conversion of DCE into Delhi Technological University is against the fundamental philosophy of the Prof Yashpal Committee recommendations, which aim at enhancing and not degrading the status of colleges having achieved excellence.

3. This mail is has been sent to you all  to put things in perspective and to initiate discussion over this significant development in the history of our College and forge a collective view of the Association on this important issue.

4. First of all let us take up the issue of autonomy. As per the Bill passed by the Delhi Assembly, the Board of Management of the proposed D.T.U. shall ,besides  the Vice-Chancellor ,comprise of three Secretaries of Govt of Delhi ( Finance, Higher Education and Technical Education), three eminent persons nominated by the Delhi Government ,two Professors nominated by Delhi Government, two Deans nominated by the Delhi Government  and a representative of the Industry Association nominated by the Delhi Government.  Do you call this autonomy ? or this institute is going to be totally entangled in the strong web of Bureaucracy making it susceptible to local political influences in every sphere from admissions to recruitment of Faculty resulting in overall degradation of the Institute.

It would not be out of context to mention that no state university (Technical) in the country is considered anywhere amongst the top 25 institutions of higher learning.

5. Let us now take up the issue of delay in recruitment of Faculty and updating course curriculum and expand programs.

In the Bill U.P.S.C has been blamed for delay in recruitment of faculty in Delhi College of Engineering and University of Delhi for delay in approving proposals for revision of course curriculum and introduction of new Courses. On the contrary, it is the college administration which has been responsible for not sending the posts to the UPSC and for not sending the proposals for revision of syllabi to the University of Delhi in time with proper advance planning.

It is important & justified to mention here that it was due to intense pressure on the college administration and consistent effort by DCE teachers Association (DCETA) that a record number of about 45 teaching faculty appointments could be made during the last 2 to 3  years, by the same UPSC, which has been unfairly blamed in the Bill.

Further, the UPSC is perhaps among the few recruiting agencies that are known for large scale and fair selections at the national level. (The recruitment scams in the state Public Service Commissions/ Autonomous organizations are well known by now).

It would be pertinent to mention here that due to mushrooming of private engineering colleges and universities in the recent years, there is a general shortage of good faculty in the country and this was bound to affect DCE also. In this connection please refer to news item in HT front page on 20-7-09 mentioning that 1,800 positions of faculty are vacant in 19 Central Universities and many IITs. If this is the case then degrading DCE to a level of State University would help in getting faculty or further worsen the chances of attracting good faculty ?

6. You may recollect that a large no of Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs) in various States were upgraded to the level of National Institutes Technology (NITs) and Roorkee Engineering College, one of the better known among State Engg. Colleges, was upgraded to the level of IIT by the Central Government. Recently, Government has taken a decision (HT 14^th July,2009,page 9) to upgrade IT BHU to IIT and an expert panel has also  identified seven other lesser known institutions including Bengal Engineering College, Howrah,Engineering &Technology Department of Jadavpur University and Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University to the level of IIT.On the contrary a better known institution ranked amongst top technical institution of the country is being reduced to the level of a marginal state university.

    On the contrary, DCE instead of being upgraded, will be reduced to the level of a State Level University. One doesn’t need to strain his brains to understand the difference between a National level Institute and a State University wherein all sorts of local influences will be in a position to distort, bend, and manipulate almost every function of the University, leading to the dilution and ultimately, degenerating the very foundations of DCE. As already mentioned, no state university (Technical.) in the country is considered anywhere amongst the top 25 institutions of higher learning. In reality and the public perception, the present level of DCE is superior to any state Technical University or even NIT. Therefore, there is absolutely no sound justification to annihilate this prestigious institution of India, having a Central Character.

Therefore, a better proposition would be to either let University of Delhi completely takeover DCE or, to convert it into a NIT, since the state of Delhi does not have the one (NIT). All the advantages like faster revision of syllabus, introduction of new courses and increasing number of seats etc. will be available under complete command of University of Delhi or NIT besides the Status of being on the National level and having Autonomy in functioning which otherwise would be a distant dream for a State University ( D.T.U).

7. If DCE is converted to D.T.U., the interest of the students of DCE would also be greatly hurt as they would not be receiving their Degrees from University of Delhi, a Central University, recognized the world over and which has created a name for itself. They would find it difficult to secure admissions in institutions of higher learning abroad as their degree would not carry much weight.

8. The creation of DTU in place of DCE is neither in the interest of students, Faculty nor Alumni.

9. If you could kindly recollect in the Annual Alumni Meet – 2005, the Chief Guest, Shri Kapil Sibal, the then Minister of Science and Technology  himself proposed granting a Deemed University Status to DCE under the Central Government. Prof. P.B.Sharma, Principal, DCE, now its Director, was himself present there and  had agreed with it. The same Minister is now heading HRD Ministry in Cabinet Rank.

10. It is unfortunate that the Authorities that be in DCE have not taken Alumni into confidence or invited their views on this change of course affecting the destiny of this great Institution of ours and creating an “IDENTITY CRISIS” for us and your Alma-Mater. Even a slightest hint was not given by the Director, DCE on these developments (which he was spearheading in his self interest) in the Alumni Meet- 2009 (only about five months back). Was it not his duty to keep the Alumni informed?

11. On the contrary, knowing very well that Alumni Association (www.dcealumni. org ) and Alumni at large would not be supporting this degradation in the status of DCE, news items were implanted in HT Horizons on 8-7-09( on last but one page) about Alumni hailing this raise of status of DCE. The same has been repeated in HT Business Supplement at page 26 on 9-7-09 quoting some Secretary, DAANA in US stating that Alumni hails the rise in status of DCE. To prove that this news has been implanted by DCE Authorities, the official press release of DCE, available on the DCE website may be seen for which hyperlink is given below:

 
http://www.dce. edu/web/Sections /Specials/ DTU/DCE_to_ DTU_Press. php

On searching on the web it is found that there is no association called DAANA. Instead, there are two groups created on social networking site ‘Linkedin’ having this abbreviation (DAANA) having membership of 72 and 1.The one whose so called secretary Harsh Arora has been quoted in HT has only one member , he himself. A snapshot alongwith the link is pasted below for you to see.

Search Results (2)

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Delhi College of Engineering Alumni Association of North America A networking resource for alumni of Delhi College of Engineering based in North America. Please send this invitation link to your DCE classmates based in USA and Canada to come join us! http://www.linkedin .com/e/gis/ 35337/350C966101 17

Owner:

Anish Arora | 72 members | Share

Join this group »

DCE Alumni Association of North America

The mission of the Delhi College of Engineering Alumni Association of North America (DAANA) is to support Delhi     

     Owner:

       Harsh Arora | 1 member | Share

     Pl note the unauthorized use of Alumni Association’s and DCE’s official      logos. Also find enclosed screen shot of above from Linkedin website as an attachment.

12. Not only this, Alumni may also please note the brazen attempt by Shri Harsh Arora in complicity with the DCE Authorities to fool not only Alumni but Delhi Government by writing the following  email to Honble Chief Minister of Delhi in the capacity of Secretary DAANA and on behalf of Governing Board of DAANA.

Honorable Madam Dixit,

Today, I came to know of wonderful news from Prof. P.B. Sharma on up gradation of DCE to Delhi Technological University. I would like to convey my deepest thanks to you on taking a lead in granting the status of University to DCE. This is the greatest news for DCE’ites in North America and around the globe.

We truly believe this is only possible because of your dynamic & sincere efforts in taking a lead as a Chief Minister who understand the value of Academic& Administrative Autonomy.

Again sincere thanks on behalf of DCE Alumni Association of North America (DAANA).

We do look forward to welcoming you as a guest of honor along with Prof. P.B. Sharma in our global alumni reunion in New York in spring’ 10.
 

- Harsh Arora
Secretary – DAANA
On behalf of DAANA Governing Board

Not a single member except him and he is writing on behalf of Governing Board ! 

This email has been posted by DCE authorities on DCE website. A link for the same is given below for you to see.

 
http://www.dce. edu/web/Sections /Specials/ DTU/DCE_to_ DTU_Alumni_ Mails.php

Also find enclosed screen shots of above from DCE website as an attachment.

As you may see, there is deliberate attempt by DCE Authorities in collusion with some favour seeking and greedy persons (should not call them alumnus) in  misguiding Alumni, Delhi Government and the public to create an impression that everybody is appreciating this move including the alumni. If it was really such a great step then why would the DCE authorities need the help of such NON-EXISTENT & FICTICIOUS Associations …….

13. In the above backdrop, you may be wondering as to what was the need and urgency for this move to tinkle with the status of DCE ( while N.S.I.T is left untouched).The facts are for you to see. The current Director who has been at the helm of the affairs of DCE for the last about 13 long years became wiser only near his retirement and would be the main beneficiary by becoming the Vice-Chancellor of DTU, thereby getting additional term of up to five years.

14. Can’t we take up the issue of welfare of DCE and our identity crisis with the Authorities that be? If you kindly recollect a handful of New Delhi Traders didn’t allow the notification of Delhi Rent Control Act even after it was passed by the Parliament and signed by the President.

The performance and ranking of DCE  has been worsening over the last many years and in the India Today rankings, released about a month back, DCE did not find its name mentioned in the top ten Technical Institutions of the Country.

Are we to remain a mute spectator to this systematic degradation of this great Institution of ours? Or, should we do something about it within our means in a totally democratic manner and within legal boundaries?

Today, we are at cross roads of our identity and actions that we take in the coming weeks would determine the course of history of your Alma-mater.

15. It is hoped that the above facts would have given you a true picture of the things to come. It is, therefore, requested that you may appraise your views to the DCE authorities and the Government of Delhi so that they are aware of the true response of our Alumni instead of the false propaganda unleashed by some persons (in collusion with DCE authorities) and posted on DCE website.

For this purpose the email addresses are given below:

1. Hon’ble President of India                   presidentofindia@ rb.nic.in
2. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India            http://pmofindia. nic.in/write. htm
3. Hon’ble Union Minister for HRD           ksibal@sansad. nic.in
4.  Hon’ble Chief Minister,Delhi                cmdelhi@nic. in    
5. Hon’ble  Lt. Governor,Delhi                  lggc.delhi@nic. in
6. Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi    vc@...

Pl also mark a copy to DCE Teachers Association at dceta2007@gmail. com  

16.  If you really feel that your alma-mater and your teachers have played some role in guiding your destiny then please come forward in this hour of great crisis and let us unite for this noble cause.

17.  Please send this mail to as many DCEites and well-wishers & Friends of DCE as you know and also express your opinion in Blogs, Forums and to Media  so that you may also contribute your bit in informing them of the reality and creating an awareness on this issue.

“SAVE DCE”

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

DELHI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION