University ad violates UGC norms

January 8: In a petition filed in the Bombay High Court the Maharashtra Under-privileged Teachers' Association (MUPTA) has sought cancellati...

January 8: In a petition filed in the Bombay High Court the Maharashtra Under-privileged Teachers’ Association (MUPTA) has sought cancellation of an advertisement issued by the University of Mumbai for filling up the post of registrar.

The petition alleged that the university’s advertisement (published on September 24, 1997) flouted the guidelines laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the provisions of Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994 and the state government’s notification (December 7) which had reserved the post for scheduled caste candidates. The government had too issued contradictory letters leading to further confusion.

On June 17, 1997 the state government had ordered a temporary stay on filling up of the post. A committee was set up to suggest amendments in the qualifications for the post in accordance with the UGC guidelines. The panel is yet to submit its report.

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The public interest petition filed on December 26, 1997 alleged that the Vice-Chancellor of the respondent university misled Chief Minister Manohar Joshi about the qualifications laid down by the UGC. The co-petitioners include Forum for Fairness in Education, the University Employees’ Union and deputy registrar of the varsity A M Murudkar.

Advocate Ashok Kotangle, representing the petitioners, said that in its letter dated June 17, 1997 the state government had informed the universities in Maharashtra that it is actively considering revision of the present qualification for the registrar’s post on the lines of the qualifications laid down by the UGC. But on July 28, 1997 the government directed state universities to treat its June 17 letter as cancelled and asked them to follow its May 4, 1997 letter which had approved filling up of the registrar’s post though it would violate the Maharashtra Universities Act (1994). The petition stated that the MUPTA had on several occasions had urged the state government to change the qualifications for the post in keeping with the UGC guidelines.