25% MU-affiliated colleges operating without principal

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TIMES NEWS NETWORK

15.01.2022

Mumbai: One in four colleges affiliated to Mumbai University is functioning without a principal, revealed RTI data. Of the total 808 affiliated colleges, 81 have a director’s post. From the remaining 727, as many as 178 are operating without principals and for 23, the university does not have any record.

Many of the colleges without principals are from the engineering, law and management faculties, according to the RTI report. As per university records obtained on December 28, 2021 by RTI activist Anil Galgali, KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Ritambhara College, Vivekanand College of Law, SIES Institute of Technology, Advani College of Law, and Rizvi College are among the institutes which have incharge principals. Sardar Patel Institute of Technology (Andheri), Burhani College (Byculla), NSS College of Education (Tardeo), N Dalmia Institute of Management Studies (Mira Road), and Dr Ambedkar College of Law (Wadala), are among the colleges to not have a principal.

The information was provided by the Teacher Recognition Cell of the university. Galgali said it is the higher and technical education department’s moral responsibility to act against these colleges. He questioned the ministry’s move to approve new courses in colleges which are operating without principals. He demanded an inquiry.

A university official said that after a recent government resolution, most colleges have started filling principals’ posts. While aided colleges require a government NOC for the appointment, unaided colleges must get advertisements inviting applications approved from the university. He said the process has started in many colleges and vacancies are likely to get filled soon.

An official from the higher education department said the pandemic also delayed the appointment process in a few grant-in aid colleges. But few aided colleges are without principals right now, added the official. A government resolution was issued on November 12 asking all vacant principals' posts to be filled in non-government grant-in aid colleges before the start of the 2022-23 academic session.