Even though the higher and technical education ministry could not get the New Maharashtra Universities Act of 2015 passed in the Winter Session of the Assembly, based on the feedback from various stakeholders it has effected some changes in the draft. With the changes, the state plans to bring the Act in effect through an ordinance in January 2016. The changes include elections for the student council, inclusion of student council members in the decision-making process of the university and the most important change being an increase in the number of members on the senate that has been raised to 71 from the 52 in the previous draft.
As per the old Act, the senate had 103 members but the original draft had reduced it to 52 members. However, the second Dr Arun Nigvekar committee, which was asked to include the suggestions, raised the members to 71. The first committee of Dr Nigvekar was responsible for framing the draft of the new Act.
Another important change effected in the amended draft is that student council elections will be restarted and the council members will also be allowed to be on the management council so that they can give inputs for improving facilities for students as well as have a say in decision making through suggestions as they will not have voting powers. The latest draft stresses that the Act is aimed at being student-centric and hence has tried to increase the presence of students in important bodies of the university.
The latest changes, however, keeps election to academic council, faculties and board of studies of various departments to a bare minimum. Out of the 38 members in the academic council, only five out of 38 members will be appointed through the election process, while the board of studies and faculties will not have any elected representative.
Justifying the decision to reduce elections, a member of one of the committees said that many academicians were not interested in contesting elections and hence kept away from playing an active role in the university’s working.
“The government is trying to keep out the teachers’ unions from the various bodies of the university which is not a very good sign for accountability and transparency. It is totally undemocratic and should be condemned,” said a former member of the Bombay University and College Teachers’ Union.
