SGU becomes centre for squabbles

SURAT, June 24: It's unfortunate that even an apparently innocuous issue like centralised admission system acquires political tinge on the S...

SURAT, June 24: It8217;s unfortunate that even an apparently innocuous issue like centralised admission system acquires political tinge on the South Gujarat University campus.

Take the centralised admissions to the five Bachelor of Education colleges in Surat, Kamrej, Daman, Kharod Ankleshwar and Bilimora in South Gujarat region for instance. Four years down the line the idea has come under severe fire, the same way it was criticised when it was introduced for the benefit of the students.

Suddenly, everything associated with the system, from the way admissions are being given to the persons appointed on the committee are being rapped. Charges of corruption, nepotism and irregularities are being freely doing the round of the campus leaving one wondering whether the original system was better.

The five colleges who give B Ed degrees are much sought after, for the potential employment value the course carries. According to the earlier system, a majority of students used apply for all five colleges. It not only cost them money but also considerable time.

Names of many candidates then prominently adorned all the lists simultaneously, who would take admission in the college of their choice leaving it to the management of other colleges to decide on the fate of vacant seats. The managements were also accused of trading those seats.

To counter these allegations, the university when Dr B A Parikh was at the helm of affairs, introduced the centralised admission system and made Kamrej College its centre.

It saved considerable money for candidates as only one form had to be filled and they could keep track of their fortunes at one place. All they had to do was indicate their choice and be ready for admission.

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A centralised admission committee was appointed with Suryakant Shah as the chairman, Kamrej college principal Ashwini Kapadia as the convenor and principals of other colleges as members. The idea was flayed by many saying it had centralised powers in very few hands. But since the Syndicate, then dominated by Shah and Hoshang Mirza8217;s supporters, had backed the idea, the system continued.

Few noises were heard in between. But with the change in equation in the Syndicate; irregularities, genuine or otherwise, committed by the committee are coming to the fore more freely, and in large numbers. To begin with the motives of the committee and its chairman are being questioned.

Says Vice-chancellor Ashwin Kapadia there are many loopholes in the system and its functioning has not been up to the mark. Students are at the receiving end as many irregularities are being committed. He is also critical of the post held by Shah and the resolution passed by the Syndicate which granted him permanent chairmanship of the committee.

Kapadia cites injustice meted out to a backward class student from Dangs who could not keep the appointment as he got the interview letter late due to postal delay. Though he produced certificate from the postal authorities, his case was not considered.

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Syndicate member Hoshang Mirza, however, does not agree with Kapadia8217;s claim. Shah8217;s appointment was just extended by one year, he says and is of the belief that not a single irregularity is committed by the committee. He feels allegations are being hurled to justify the university8217;s move to scrap the system, that is hurting 8220;vested interests8221;.