Times of India: Mumbai: Friday, March 15, 2013.
A commerce
college in Navi Mumbai run by higher and technical education minister Rajesh
Tope's family functions out of a residential building, does not have teachers
approved by the university and lacks requisite infrastructure, according to the
findings of an inquiry committee.
The
three-member Local Inquiry Committee (LIC) that visited the college in November
and December stated the shortcomings of the MSS College of Commerce in its
report.
The
committee's report, which was not made public by the University of Mumbai, was
obtained through an RTI application.
The report
states that the college had given an undertaking to the university that it
would shift to its own building within five years of its formation. Currently,
the college runs out of the first floor of Silicon Tower, a residential complex
in Vashi.
The college
was set up by the Matsyodhari Shikshan Sanstha run by Tope's family in 2007-08
on permanent no grant basis.
"These
remarks in the report clearly show that the college has exceeded the five-year
limit," said Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena's Santosh Gangurde, who
filed the RTI application. "They have not shifted to a new location even
in the sixth academic year. The minister should have shut down the college a
year ago."
Tope said the
situation would be remedied. "If I am unable to shift to a new location
soon, I will shut down the college," he said.
He also said
that most permanently non-grant colleges do not have approved teachers.
"But the teachers are well qualified. The only problem is with the college
building," he said.
The
fact-finding committee also pointed out that while the college library had
1,807 books, it did not have a qualified librarian, research journals and
reference books. It stated that the college did not submit any evidence of
hiring of a ground for sports activities, and the gymkhana facilities were
limited to carrom and table tennis.
TOI had first
reported about the lack of infrastructure at the college in October. The
university set up the inquiry committee after a complaint by MNVS secretary
Gajanan Kale. The committee submitted its report in January, but it was never
made public.
The report
states: "The total number of students in the current academic year is only
95 as against the allotted strength of 360. The classrooms and furniture
presently available in the college are sufficient to accommodate these 95
students, but these are not in accordance with the requirements that an
affiliated college needs to provide as per the university rules...It appears
that the college did not start new self finance courses (mentioned in the
prospectus) due to inadequate infrastructure and other facilities."
Tope said:
"We are in talks with Rayat Education Society and a dental college in the
vicinity. The dental college proposal might not work out but the other one
would."
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