| NAGPUR: Nagpur University's decision to lift ban on 250 colleges operating sans teachers and infrastructure came under severe criticism from the academic fraternity, who termed the episode as "complete mockery of education". Terming Monday's development as blatant misuse of law and gross violation of court orders, they demanded immediate intervention of chancellor K Sankaranarayanan to stop such illegalities where innocent students will be ultimate sufferers and degradation of quality will touch the Nadir.
They accused the 'remote-controlled' administration of unilaterally surrendering NU's legitimate interests by embarking on a decision that was inconsistent with the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994. Citing section 81, 28(u) read with section 14(5), they said the VC was duty bound to ensure that the decision taken by an authority was in consonance with the binding provisions of the act, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations. They alleged a big conspiracy behind the episode, stating that the outcome of council's meeting was preplanned by senior member Baban Taywade and VC.
Senior academician Eknath Kathale even went to the extent that VC didn't need to convene the meeting of Academic Council as he had powers to take decision on its behalf. "Undoubtedly NU administration was responsible for this mess. How the colleges are allowed to run without a single teacher for all these years and who will evaluate answer-sheets of their students," he asked.
He said he was himself member of council for many years and witnessed how the reports drafted by local enquiry committees (LECs) were not even opened by the Academic Council members before passing them.
Terming the episode as "disgusting", chancellor's nominee Sanjay Khadakkar expressed concern, stating that dirty politics had prevailed over academics. "Even after several strictures passed by the high court on the NU administration, such political decisions are continue to be made. This indicates how deep the rot had gone. I will definitely take up this issue with the chancellor," he said.
The academicians also took objection to the constitution of scrutiny panel under Management Council member Kishor Deshmukh, stating that all its members were directly associated with NU and this factor vitiated their report. Deshmukh however lamented that no one raised voice for students' interests and no one from the administration had opposed such decisions.
Even joint director of technical education Dilip Patil, who disassociated himself from "illegal" decision of Academic Council, stated that though the members cited section 83 (3) (c) of MU Act for passing resolutions as per their "vested" interests, they failed to read section 91 that stated that if colleges failed to adhere to norms, BCUD can issue notices to them as to why their affiliation can't be withdrawn.
Many renowned groups have found their names in the banned colleges list. They included Meghe, Raisoni, Wanjari, Pandav, Agnihotri, Jagdamba, Priyadarshini, Joshi, Mulak, Central India, Tirupati, Millennium, Manoharbhai Patel and Waghaye Patil, among others. Interestingly, a majority of NU's statutory bodies comprise members who were working with these groups. These members expectedly put up the stand during Monday's meet as dictated by their political masters and passed the resolution to lift ban on admissions and also of appointing temporary teachers. The meeting witnessed a rare scenario where members from various political groups, who usually remains at loggerheads, came together to justify their illegalities, academicians informed.
Will act only on complaints: Guv secy
Reacting to NU's decision to lift ban on 250 colleges, chancellor K Sankaranarayanan's secretary Vikaschandra Rastogi told TOI that they will act only after receiving a complaint. "We haven't received any petition and nothing is before us to act. Moreover, the issue is sub-judice. Therefore, can't comment much without looking into the facts," he said, adding that he will first seek details from the VC.
NU to seek time from HC for reply
NU standing counsel Purushottam Patil told TOI that they would seek two weeks from the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court when the petitions filed by Sunil Mishra would come up for hearing on Wednesday. "The Academic Council's decision would be placed before the Management Council during its regular meeting on Friday for clearance. Only after that we will file a reply," he said. This means, the ban on admission to 250 colleges would continue for at least two weeks. |