Bhavya Dore, Hindustan Times; Mumbai, November 16, 2010
Teachers from the University of Mumbai have expressed concern over the questions raised regarding vice-chancellor Rajan Welukar's research credentials.
A group of academics who filed a RTI query to obtain Welukar's CV said that of the 12 research papers listed by Welukar, two were not published at the time of his selection to the post, while he was still working on a third.
Teachers said that if the reports were true, it was worrying news for the university.
"The university is at a juncture that it needs strong academic leadership," said Neeraj Hateker, reader at the university's economics department. "Some of us are disturbed by what we have read in newspapers and we want an impartial enquiry by the government into the matter," he added.
The vice-chancellor remained unavailable for comment.
"I have not read the news carefully, but if it is true then it is a pretty serious matter," said another university lecturer, who did not wish to be named.
Two public interest litigations have already been filed in the Bombay High Court questioning the vice-chancellor's selection alleging that he does not have the requisite experience.
Some teachers pointed out that it was best to await the court's decision on the matter.
"It is important that the right kind of people with the right credentials are in charge," said a university teacher, who requested anonymity. "However, constantly going against one individual is not right. The matter should be challenged in the right forum."
Taking cognizance of the challenges facing higher education, members of the University of Mumbai Academic Staff Association plan to present within the next few days, a blueprint on reforms that the university needs to the chief minister.
This includes proposals to tackle staff shortages, evolving ‘schools' to facilitate inter-disciplinary research, introducing a semester-wise grading system and having experts visit the university to assess it from time to time.
.JPG)
.JPG)
