MUMBAI, OCTOBER 3: The clamour for autonomy in city colleges has been matched only by the innumerable disputes that have cropped up regarding the proposed new rules. Ever since the state government sent the statutes for autonomy to various universities for their approval in July, the University of Mumbai has been locked in debate over the balance of power that the proposed autonomy should confer.The latest bout has ranged teachers' unions and managements into opposite camps, with the draft modifications ratified by the university's Management Council (MC) at an urgent meeting on September 21 evoking protests from the former. They fear the amendments will vest inordinate powers, including financial powers, in college managements, leaving students and teachers vulnerable to manipulation. The amendments were suggested by a committee appointed by the vice-chancellor after the statutes prepared by the state government and tabled before the MC on August 31, raised certain questions. The amendments will now beplaced before the university's Senate - whose ratification is mandatory - on October 15. Teachers' unions will, however, use the platform to further amend the rules.The modifications accepted by the MC are, in fact, tantamount to a near-reversal of the original statutes. Changes have been introduced regarding representation for college managements in the proposed Board of Management, which will administer the autonomous institution. The earlier rules stipulated only one management representative - a chairperson - on the board. However, after several principals protested, saying no management would want to run a college if it is not given adequate representation, the rules were amended to include a secretary nominated by the management and two teachers, again nominated by the management.The second area where changes have been brought in is the proposed fee structure. According to the amendments, each autonomous institution has been allowed to fix its own tuition fees whereas the original statutes hadgranted colleges the power to fix fees and other charges payable by students, barring tuition fees.Questions had also been raised about the constitution of a Subject Board, which will prepare the syllabus for various courses. The earlier rules had no provision for subjects where only one person mans a department. Now, the rules have been amended to include the constitution of an ad-hoc committee, appointed by the principal/director for such subjects.Vice-Chancellor Dr Snehalata Deshmukh said that the agenda has already been circulated to members of the Senate, which will convene on October 15.Explaining the teachers' position, president of the Bombay College and University Teachers' Union (BUCTU), C R Sadashivan told Express Newsline that they have been ``ideologically opposed'' to autonomy on the grounds that managements ``have not reached a stage where they can handle autonomy without prejudice''. Sadashivan, who is also an MC member, adds that with colleges being allowed to fix their own feestructure, the union fears the whole exercise of autonomy will be used by colleges to make money by doling out degrees.However, even if the statutes are passed by the Senate, the state government is expected to intervene in the final stages. Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Datta Rane, says: ``These are draft statutes which we had given to the universities for suggesting changes. After they come back to us, we shall hold a meeting to decide further changes.''
