Pune:
The future of over 40,000 first-year students of colleges and institutes functioning under the University of Pune (UoP) is at the crossroads: their colleges and institutes do not have full-time qualified principals and directors as required. The UoP has made it clear it will not grant eligibility to these students.
The last date of securing eligibility of the students with late fees is October 31. "Eligibility is granted by the UoP to first-year students, which signifies they are enrolled with the UoP for degree courses. Unless the eligibility process is done, they will not be able to appear for the mid-term examinations in November and December," said the UoP officials.
Some UoP officials have questioned the lackadaisical attitude of the management of these colleges and institutes in not appointing full-time principals and directors. There are at present 98 such colleges and 48 institutes spread over Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar districts. Most of them have admitted students to the first year degree courses.
The supreme court had directed all colleges and institutes in the state to fill up the posts of principals by May 31 this year. Some colleges and institutes approached the court and obtained an extension, as they had started the process of appointing the principal or director, but could not complete it before the deadline.
However, the 98 colleges and 48 institutes did not obtain any extension from the apex court. The board of college and university development (BCUD) director, WN Gade, told DNA on Sunday that the varsity will act within the legal framework and adhere to the directives of the supreme court. "The UoP can take decisions in favour of the students. But we cannot act beyond the directives of the supreme court," Gade said.
The UoP has asked these educational institutes to move the apex court immediately. Sources in the UoP said that as a last resort, the varsity could provide external admissions to students studying in first year BA or BCom courses of these colleges.
"But students who are pursuing their science degrees will be affected since there is no provision for external admissions for science stream students. Their admissions have to be cancelled," the sources said.
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