A tough route ahead for Mumbai University

Several key positions at the University of Mumbai (MU) mlie at a risk of falling vacant with term of the officials currently holding these posts likely to end after the declaration of results. With most appointments of the key positions including that of the Vice Chacellor (V-C) and the Pro V-C being made for a period of three months or until all the results are declared, MU stares at a bleak future. 

Owing to the unprecedented crisis of results, MU V-C Sanjay Deshmukh was sent on forced leave after which the governor appointed Dr Devanand Shinde, V-C of Shivaji University in Kolhapur as the acting V-C for MU on August 9.

Shinde’s order states that his appointment is for a period of three years or until results are declared, whichever the earlier. At the same time, Dr Dhiren Patel, Director of VJTI was appointed as the acting Pro VC. On August 16, Dr Arjun Ghatule was appointed as the acting Director for the Board of Examinations and Evaluation while the university gave the additional charge for the post of Registrar to Dinesh Kamble, who was the Deputy Registrar of Special cell at the university. 

With just eight results yet to be declared, the term of these officials on some of the above key positions is likely to come to an end, which, the experts fear would create a vacuum with the lack of a permanent decision making body in place until further appointments. “The university is currently grappling with a number of issues. Thousands of students are yet to get their results, several revaluation cases would have to be addressed, the university has no NAAC accreditation till date, the perspective plan has been delayed and a hundred more issues. At such a point, not having permanent officials on some of these key positions would make things worse” said Dr AD Sawant, former Pro- VC at the university. 

Experts fear that until permanent appointments are made to these key positions, students would be left in lurch. “At this point, there is no official to come up with a permanent solution for the university’s existing problems.