Principal Pandey has asked for directions to hold a Staff Council meeting because of increasing opposition to the name change. The staff held a protest against the change, and the request for a meeting is based on University regulations.
Principal seeks guidance on staff council meeting
The letter, which was sent on Friday, specifically asks for directions to have a Staff Council meeting to discuss the name change. Principal Pandey and Jnanendra Narayan Singh, the Secretary of the Staff Council, signed it, and it mentions the Staff Association’s many requests to discuss the governing body’s decision to rename the college.
The Staff Association wants a proper chance to have a debate about the proposal, the letter explains. It ends by asking for advice on if a meeting can be held following University of Delhi rules to discuss the suggested name change.
Protest and stakeholder support
The letter points out that a one-day protest on Thursday had support from the Academic Council, the Executive Council, and the Delhi University Teachers’ Association. The Staff Association doesn’t want the college to be renamed and wants to discuss it within the college.
Two days after the protest was called, the principal asked the Vice-Chancellor what to do. This shows she’s trying to get the disagreement to go through the University’s normal process for making decisions.
Key points highlighted by those involved include:
– Staff Association demands a meeting on the renaming resolution
– Protest drew support from AC, EC, and DUTA members
– Principal sought V-C directions on convening the council
– Registrar said EC will not discuss the matter now
Background of the renaming proposal
Yogesh Singh, the Vice-Chancellor, announced in December 2025 that the evening college would be renamed for Banda Singh Bahadur, a Sikh warrior. This caused debate on campus and with people involved with the University.
Currently, the college is named for Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, who in the 1800s was a generous person who gave money to good causes, supported education, and worked for social reform. The suggestion to change the name has since become the main issue for staff, who are worried about how the decision is being made and whether they are being asked for their opinions.
What happens next
Mithilesh Kumar Singh, the president of the Staff Association, says the principal promised to hold a meeting on April 28th, the day before the Executive Council meeting, during the protest. He says, “As of now, that meeting hasn’t happened. The principal has now written to the Vice-Chancellor.”
The protest happened because people thought the proposal would be presented at the next Executive Council meeting. However, the University of Delhi’s registrar says the matter won’t be discussed at the current Executive Council meeting.
Process questions at the forefront
The main disagreement is about the process, specifically if the Staff Council should meet to talk about what the governing body has decided. The principal’s letter asks for very clear instructions, with the goal of making sure the next steps follow the University’s rules.
Right now, the staff most want a formal discussion to happen before anything else occurs with the renaming. The University administration needs guidance from the Vice-Chancellor, which will decide when and how extensive that discussion will be.
Outlook for the campus
Since the registrar said the Executive Council isn’t going to consider this right now, focus is now on getting opinions from people within the college. The college is waiting for directions on if the Staff Council meeting they requested can be held.
For the time being, the tension around changing the name from Dyal Singh Evening College to Banda Singh Bahadur College is still the main thing. People involved with different University groups are waiting to see what the Vice-Chancellor says and what the next step in the process will be.
