Nagpur University defers engineering examination

Updated on: Thursday, November 08, 2012

Though it may appear that the Nagpur University (NU) deferred the engineering examinations for the benefit of the students, the reality is otherwise. According to NU officials, the exams were postponed in order to regularize "illegal" admissions in the postgraduate (MTech/ME) courses given by 10 renowned engineering colleges even before getting affiliated to NU. The affiliation came as late as on October 30 for some new and old courses. Since these colleges were unable to complete the mandatory 90-day period of academic work, they allegedly pressurised NU administration to defer the exam.

NU deferred the exam by nearly two months after buckling under the pressure of these colleges owned by politicians and education barons, as not even 500 BE students were going to be benefited by this decision. NU top brass took advantage of students protests and postponed the exam. The move would severely affect over 60,000 students.

Officials added that these colleges blatantly flouted Section 83(6) of Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, by admitting students for MTech/ME courses even before getting affiliated to NU. Moreover, NU will be flouting Section 82(5) of same Act which states that for any new college which gets permission from the government after July 15, NU should grant affiliation to it in the subsequent academic year and conduct exam of its students in that session only. In this case, these colleges had already admitted students but did not show them on record till getting affiliation on October 30. However, the colleges will not be able to meet the mandatory 90-day academic work requirement. Both NU registrar Ashok Gomase and PRO Prashant Mohite failed to give satisfactory replies to these queries and told media that information will be sought in the matter.

NU's eagerness to offer favours to these colleges was evident during Wednesday's emergent meeting of Academic Council when the issue of approving new syllabus and scheme of exam for a new course of MTech (Computer Aided Design Manufacture and Automation) was surprisingly added, reportedly under the pressure of private colleges. It was also cleared without even a single word from any of the 68 members despite VC Vilas Sapkal having called them for discuss. NU officials added that about 10 colleges had got this course approved from AICTE and had already admitted students though the syllabus was cleared by NU on Wednesday only. "Now, the colleges will bring these admissions on record i.e. legalize them. The exams were postponed to facilitate this move," officials informed.

What Section 82(5) (Procedure for permission) of MU Act says?

— From the academic year 2001-2002, permission to new colleges from the state government shall be communicated to the university on or before July 15 (Earlier, it was before 30 June) of the year, in which the new college is proposed to be started. Permissions received thereafter shall be given effect by the university only in the subsequent academic year.

What Section 83(6) (Procedure of Affiliation) of MU Act says?

— No student shall be admitted by the college or institution unless the first time affiliation has been granted by the university to the college or institution.

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