Strike by non-teaching staffers: Three Maharashtra varsities defer final-year exams

“A meeting of Examination and Assessment Committee held on September 29 to discuss the provision of conducting exams has concluded that conducting exams smoothly as per the scheduled time will not be possible due to the ongoing strike by staff members. It has been decided that the exams that were to be conducted from October 1 in the university and its affiliated colleges will need to be postponed,” the circular issued by North Maharashtra University stated. It added that a revised schedule will soon be shared with the students. Similar circulars were also issued by the Nagpur and Aurangabad universities.

The Maharashtra State College Universities Employees Action Committee members have stopped reporting for work to universities seeking implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission for non-teaching staff of non-agricultural universities, assured progression scheme, five-day work week, pension for retired employees and changes in the recruitment system.

On Monday, the committee members held an online meeting with State Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant, Minister of State Prajakt Tanpure, and officials of the Higher and Technical Education and State Finance departments. “Even as the meeting took off on a positive note, the talks remained inconclusive,” the committee announced in a statement.

A statement by Samant on Monday said the state government was positive towards solving issues raised by the committee and urged it to withdraw the strike in view of smooth conduct of exams for students.