Principals missing,183 colleges likely to skip first-year admissions

As many as 183 colleges affiliated to the University of Pune may not be able to admit students in their first-year courses.

As many as 183 colleges affiliated to the University of Pune (UoP) may not be able to admit students in their first-year courses. These colleges have failed to appoint principals and as per the directives of the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court,they have only seven days left for the job. It is almost certain that these colleges will face a ban on admissions as most of them have not even started the initial process.

The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court had,on December 3,ordered that the vacant posts of principals in various state universities should be filled before May 31. According to the order,any college failing to appoint principals within the deadline should not be allowed to admit students in their first-year courses in 2009-10. It also directed the universities to start the disaffiliation process of these colleges in 2010-11.

The university had sent a few reminders to its affiliated colleges in the past four months after receiving the order of the high court. Of the 527 colleges affiliated to the university,316 were functioning without principals. Only 60 colleges have so far appointed principals while 123 colleges have started the procedure,university officials said.

Pandit Vidyasagr,director of board of college and university development,said if the colleges fail to appoint principals,the university will have no choice but to act as per the ruling.

Of the 123 colleges that have started the process of appointing principals,32 could not find the right candidates. According to Progressive Education Society executive chairman Gajanan Ekbote,the contributory pension scheme of the state government is not applicable tor principals who are appointed by selection process and not by promotion. As a result,many candidates are refusing the posts, he said.

Against this backdrop,the representatives of managements of the educational institutes on Monday met Higher and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Tope and District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar. The ministers have promised to look into the matter. As the matter is related to appointment of principals,we have demanded an immediate response, Ekbote said.

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories