Delhi University Act, 1922

This is an Act to establish a teaching and affiliating University at Delhi in India.

Delhi University Act, 1922

[Act 8 of 1922]           [5th March, 1922] 

An Act to establish and incorporate a [i][teaching and affiliating University] at Delhi

Whereas it is expedient to establish and incorporate a [ii][teaching and affiliating University] at Delhi; It is hereby enacted as follows:—

1. Short title and commencement.

1. Short title and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Delhi University Act, 1922.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct.

[Editor’s Note: This Act came into force w.e.f. 1-5-1922, see Gen. R. & O. Vol. V, p. 49; Gazette of India, 1922, Part I, p. 384.]

2. Definitions.

2. Definitions.—In this Act and in the Statutes, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—

[iii][(a) “College” means an institution maintained or admitted to its privileges by the University, and includes an Affiliated College and a Constituent College;

Explanation I.—“Affiliated College” means an institution recognized by the University in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the Statutes in which instruction is provided in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes and Ordinances up to the Bachelor's degree but exclusive of Honours and post-graduate degrees;

Explanation II.—“Constituent College” means an institution recognized as such by the Executive Council in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the Statutes;

(b) “Hall” means a unit of residence for students of the University provided, maintained or recognized by it;]

(c) “Patron of the University” means a person who has made a donation of not less than one lakh of rupees to the funds of the University, and has been declared by the Chancellor to be a Patron of the University;

(d) “Principal” means the head of a College [iv][and includes, when there is no Principal, the person for the time being duly appointed to act as Principal, and, in the absence of the Principal or the acting Principal, a Vice-Principal duly appointed as such];

[v][* * *]

(f) “Statutes”, “Ordinances” and “Regulations” mean, respectively, the Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations of the University made under this Act;

(g) “teachers” includes Professors, Readers, Lecturers and other persons imparting instruction in the University or in any College or Hall;

[vi][(h) “teachers of the University” means persons appointed or recognized by the University for the purpose of imparting instruction in the University or in any College;]

(i) “University” means the University of Delhi; and

(j) “Warden” means the head of a Hall.

3. The University.

3. The University.—(1) The first Chancellor and the first Vice-Chancellor of the University and the first members of the Court, the Executive Council and the Academic Council and all persons who may hereafter become such officers or members, so long as they continue to hold such office or membership, are hereby constituted a body corporate by the name of “the University of Delhi”.

(2) The University shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, and shall sue and be sued by the said name.

4. Powers of the University.

4. Powers of the University.—The University shall have the following powers, namely:—

(1) to provide for instruction in such branches of learning as the University may think fit, and to make provision for research and for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge;

[vii][(2) to hold examinations and to grant to, and confer degrees and other academic distinctions on, persons who—

(a) have pursued a course of study in the University or in any College, or

(b) are non-collegiate women students residing within the territorial jurisdiction of the University, or

(c) are teachers in educational institutions under conditions laid down in the Statutes and Ordinances and have passed the examinations of the University under the conditions[viii][or]],

[ix][(d) have pursued a course of study by correspondence, whether residing within the territorial jurisdiction of the University or not.] [x][or]

[xi][(e) have been registered by the University, subject to such conditions as may be laid down in the Statutes and Ordinances, as external candidates, being persons residing within the territorial limits to which the powers of the University extend,]

(3) to confer honorary degrees or other distinctions on approved persons in the manner laid down in the Statutes,

(4) to grant such diplomas to, and to provide such lectures and instructions for, persons not being members of the University, as the University may determine,

(5) to co-operate with other Universities and authorities in such manner and for such purposes as the University may determine,

(6) to institute Professorships, Readerships, Lectureships and any other teaching posts required by the University,

(7) to appoint or recognize persons as professors, Readers or Lecturers or otherwise as teachers of the University,

(8) to institute and award Fellowships, Scholarships, Exhibitions and Prizes [xii][* * *],

[xiii][(9) to maintain Colleges and Halls, to admit to its privileges Colleges not maintained by the University and to withdraw all or any of those privileges, and to recognise Hall not maintained by the University and to withdraw any such recognition.]

[xiv][(9-A) to declare, with the consent of the colleges concerned, in the manner specified by the Academic Council, colleges conducting courses of study in the Faculties of Medicine, Technology, Music or Fine Arts, as autonomous colleges:

Provided that the extent of the autonomy which each such college may have, and the matters in relation to which it may exercise such autonomy, shall be such as may be prescribed by the Statutes;

(9-B) to set up one or more College Administrative Councils for two or more colleges with such composition, powers and functions as may be laid down in the Statutes;]

(10) to demand and receive payment of such fees and other charges as may be authorized by the Ordinances,

(11) to supervise and control the residence and discipline of students of the University, and to make arrangements for promoting their health and general welfare,

[xv][(11-A) to make grants from the funds of the University for assistance to forms of extra-mural teaching,]

[xvi][(12) to make special arrangements in respect of the residence, discipline and teaching of women students,

[xvii][(12-A) to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of property movable or immovable, including trust or endowed property, for the purposes of the University,

(12-B) with the approval of the Central Government, to borrow, on the security of University property, money for the purposes of the University,]

[xviii][(12-C)] to create administrative and ministerial and other necessary posts and to make appointments thereto, and]

(13) to do all such other acts and things, whether incidental to the powers aforesaid or not, as may be requisite in order to further the objects of the University as a teaching and examining body, and to cultivate and promote arts, science and other branches of learning.

5. Territorial exercise of powers.

5. Territorial exercise of powers.—(1) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the powers of the University conferred by or under this Act [xix][(other than those conferred by sub-clause (d) of clause (2) of Section 4)] shall not extend [xx][beyond the limits of the State of Delhi], and notwithstanding anything in any other Law for the time being in force, no educational institution beyond [xxi][those limits] shall be associated with or admitted to any privileges of the University:

[xxii][* * *]

[xxiii][(1-A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Central Government may, if it is of opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the public interest, direct, by order in writing, the University to admit to its privileges any institution situated outside India and the University shall be bound to comply with such direction.]

(2) Notwithstanding anything in any other law for the time being in force [xxiv][but subject to the Provisions contained in the Jawaharlal Nehru University Act, 1966] no educational institution within the [xxv][aforementioned limits] shall be associated in any way with or be admitted to any privileges of any other University incorporated by law in the States, and any such privileges granted by any such other University to any educational institution within [xxvi][those limits] prior to the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be withdrawn on the commencement of this Act:

Provided that the Central Government may, by order in writing, direct that the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply in the case of any institution specified in the order:

[xxvii][Provided further that provisions of this sub-section shall not apply in the case of any educational institution affiliated to the Indraprastha Vishwavidyalaya incorporated under the Indraprastha Vishwavidyalaya Act, 1998 (Delhi Act 9 of 1998).”]

6. University open to all classes, castes and creeds.

6. University open to all classes, castes and creeds.—The University shall be open to all persons of either sex and of whatever race, [xxviii][creed, caste or class] and it shall not be lawful for the University to adopt or impose on any person any test whatsoever of religious belief or profession in order to entitle him to be admitted thereto as a teacher or student, or to hold any office therein, or to graduate thereat, or to enjoy or exercise any privilege thereof, except [xxix][* * *] in respect of any particular benefaction accepted by the University, where such test is made a condition thereof by any testamentary or other instrument creating such benefaction:

Provided that noting in this section shall be deemed to prevent religious instruction being given in the manner prescribed by the Ordinances to those [xxx][who have consented to receive it].

7. Teaching of the University.

7. Teaching of the University.—(1) All recognized teaching in connection with the University courses be conducted under the control of the Academic Council by teachers of the University, and shall include lecturing, laboratory work and other teaching conducted in accordance with any syllabus prescribed by the Regulations.

[xxxi][* * *]

(3) The authorities responsible for organizing such teaching shall be prescribed by the Statutes.

(4) The courses and curricula shall be prescribed by the Ordinances and, subject thereto, by the Regulations.

[xxxii][* * *]

7-A. Visitor.

[xxxiii][7-A. Visitor.—(1) The President of India shall be the Visitor of the University.

(2) The Visitor shall have the right to cause an inspection to be made by such person or persons as he may direct of the University, its buildings, laboratories and equipment and of any institution maintained by the University, and also of the examinations, teaching and other work conducted or done by the University and to cause an inquiry to be made in like manner in respect of any matter connected with the University.

(3) The Visitor shall in every case give notice to the University of his intention to cause an inspection or inquiry to be made, and the University shall be entitled to appoint a representative who shall have the right to be present and be heard at such inspection or inquiry.

(4) The Visitor may address the Vice-Chancellor with reference to the result of such inspection and inquiry, and the Vice-Chancellor shall communicate to the Executive Council the views of the Visitor with such advice as the Visitor may offer upon the action to be taken thereon.

(5) The Executive Council shall communicate through the Vice-Chancellor to the Visitor such action, if any, as it is proposed to take or has been taken upon the result of such inspection or inquiry.

(6) Where the Executive Council does not, within a reasonable time, take action to the satisfaction of the Visitor, the Visitor may, after considering any explanation furnished or representation made by the Executive Council, issue such directions as he may think fit and the Executive Council shall be bound to comply with such directions.

(7) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section the Visitor may, by order in writing, annul any proceeding of the University which is not in conformity with this Act, the Statutes or the Ordinances:

Provided that before making any such order he shall call upon the University to show cause why such an order should not be made and, if any cause is shown within a reasonable time shall consider the same.

7-B. Chief Rector and Rectors.

7-B. Chief Rector and Rectors.—(1) The Chief Commissioner of the State of Delhi shall be the Chief Rector of the University.]

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