Amid strong protests by teaching members but determined support from Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental, the Academic Council (AC) of the Delhi University on Thursday approved the introduction of semester system in 12 undergradute courses of the science stream. Backed by over 100 members of the AC but opposed by 26 teaching members, the decision will mean that students being admitted to any of the 12 courses in the coming academic session will start on the semester system.

The 10 hour long meeting concluded with the VC declaring 12 syllabi corresponding to 12 science courses "passed" without discussion, alleged Rajeev Verma, a protesting member of the AC, who belongs to Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA), which has been bitterly opposed to Pental's approach on the semester system and other issues. DUTA has also been sitting on a dharna outside VC office since Thursday night.

The semester system has been approved for the syllabi of the courses including B.Sc (Hons) Chemistry, B.Sc (Hons) Botany, B.Sc (Hons) Zoology, B.Sc. (Hons) Geology, B.Sc (Hons) Bio-Medical Sciences, B.Sc. (Programme) Life Sciences, M. Sc Integrated Earth Sciences, B. Sc (Programme) Physical Sciences, B.Sc (Hons) Nursing, B.Sc (Hons) Anthropology, B.Sc (Hons) Bio Chemistry, B.Sc (Hons) Microbiology and B. Sc (Hons) Physics.

Verma said, "The agenda was tabled at around 10 pm and and there was a heated debate after that. Teachers even questioned the legality of the agenda. By 12, Vice Chancellor Prof Pental without listening to us left the hall saying, 'pass, pass, pass'. So he has implemented the system but we will keep protesting against it."

The syllabi of English and Maths papers of the science courses have not been prepared by their respected departments as they have rejected the system. To this VC reportedly said that if the respective departments would not prepare the syllabi, the job would be outsourced to some other agency.

Prof Meena, another teaching member of AC said, "VC is playing the role of Hitler. We feel that he should resign on the way he conducted the meeting on Thursday. He just wants to implement the system in science stream out of the four streams in the university, which is not right."

The implementation of the semester system in the university has long been a bone of contention between DUTA and Pental. DUTA has alleged that the VC has not discussed and debated the matter within bodies such as Committee of Courses, Academic Council, Executive Council, Staff Councils of Colleges and Departmental Council, before taking the decision.