Hisar: The appointment of principals in 11 DAV colleges across the state has effectively stalled after the Directorate of Higher Education refused to participate in the selection process, citing serious legal and jurisdictional concerns. The Directorate General of Higher Education (DGHE) declined to send its nominee to the selection committee constituted by the DAV College Managing Committee, headquartered in New Delhi. The move has triggered a standoff between the state authorities and the DAV management over who legally holds the power to appoint principals in aided colleges. State education authorities maintain that under applicable laws, the governing body of each affiliated college — not the Delhi-based DAV management — is the legally recognised appointing authority for teaching and administrative staff. In Haryana, 13 DAV colleges operate under different universities. Ten colleges are affiliated with Kurukshetra University, two with Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, and one — Dayanand (DN) College, Hisar — with Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology. Since these institutions receive substantial govt aid, the state argues they fall under its regulatory framework regarding recruitment, service conditions, and staff discipline. Officials say the recruitment process in private aided colleges is governed by the Haryana Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Act, 1979, the Haryana Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Rules, 2006, the statutes of the affiliating universities, and the UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers, 2018. According to the govt’s interpretation, these provisions clearly vest appointment powers in the statutory governing body of each individual college. Authorities argue that the DAV College Managing Committee is neither affiliated with any Haryana university nor recognised by the state as the employer institution, and therefore lacks legal authority to appoint or transfer principals or faculty. The issue has already reached the judiciary. The appointment of the principal of Dayanand (DN) College, Hisar, made by the DAV management, has been challenged before the Punjab and Haryana high court through a Public Interest Litigation filed by former associate professor Anil Bhatia. The petition alleges that the appointment violated state govt and university rules governing recruitment in aided colleges. In Feb 2026, the Directorate of Higher Education issued a series of directives to the governing bodies of DAV colleges, instructing them to fill principal vacancies strictly according to the selection procedure laid down in the respective university calendars. Colleges were also directed to submit college-wise lists of governing body members and seniority lists of teaching staff duly approved by the affiliating universities. With the state refusing to recognise the selection process initiated by the DAV management, the appointment of principals in 11 colleges has been effectively put on hold. With the matter already under judicial scrutiny, a final resolution may now rest with the courts. MSID:: 129732031 413 |
