Controversies have been dogging the 158-year-old Mumbai University, one of the oldest varsities in India since the past four years. And it's still struggling to address issues pertaining to academics.
Wrongful appointments apart, it's now surfaced that the varsity does not have board of studies (BoS) in at least 15 prominent courses. These include management, life sciences, environmental science, politics, social-work, linguistics, bio-physics, banking and finance, trade, transport and industry, home science, Gujarati, Sanskrit and modern European languages.
In all, MU has 108 board of studies, all of which play a major role in designing courses and keep them updated.
Lack of BoS can play havoc with a course as old syllabus could be retained. "This is the reason why a MU graduate is considered poor in the job market. And this leads to brain drain as many youngsters who can afford prefer to go abroad for higher studies," said a professor.
Repeated request to the varsity PRO to provide an updated list of chairpersons of BoS did not yield results.
Moreover, all self-financing courses have only ad-hoc BoS. While some of these are held by people who aren't qualified enough, others are yet to be constituted.
MU caters to over seven lakh youngsters from across six districts in the state.
Senator Sanjay Vairal said: "For getting the post of chairperson of a BoS, a lot of manipulation, lobbying and politics take place. Deans seek to recommend their own people to BoS. Even for the post of chairman of exam, this is the practice."
Vice chancellor Rajan Welukar did not respond to calls and messages as usual.
MA Khan, registrar of the varsity, questioned the "motive" behind this reporter "suddenly" opening up "old" appointments. "These appointments were made in 2011. Why are questions suddenly being raised? Looks like some people want to target the VC, whose term is about to end."
When dna told him that the context was the question paper scam it exposed on November 22, and insisted that he clarify why MU had selected maths and physics teachers as BoS chairpersons for BMM and IT, respectively,
Khan said: "They were appointed when I was not in the post, so I don't know much. It, however, appears that lack of qualified and approved people for the posts were the reason."
He also said all the boards would cease to exist in July 2015 when the VC's term ends, ruling out any possibility of their removal.
"When there is no demand from any quarter to sack them, why would we remove them?" asked Khan.
When asked whether there was not a single approved teacher across 500 colleges and MU campus for a subject introduced in 2001, Khan said: "I can comment on this only after checking the files of their appointments."
He also rubbished the charge that the VC had the right to appoint any person as the chairperson. "It is always done after recommendation of some committee."
On why there were no BoS for many major courses, Khan said he needed a day's time to find out.
Professors denied promotions
It has also come to light that while 154 posts of teachers of the sanctioned 365 were lying vacant, working professors were being denied promotions.
"I am due for promotion to professor's post since 2011, but haven't got it so far. I am also being denied HOD post as I don't lobby for it with politicians, nor beg from the vice chancellor," said an associate professor.
At least eight professors have approached the Bombay high court and the university tribunal seeking justice.
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