Indian
Express: Mumbai: Friday, 06 March 2015.
An RTI query
has exposed the rot within the prestigious Mumbai University, at a time when it
is trying to shake off the ignominy over its ‘ill qualified’ Vice-Chancellor
Rajan Welukar. The RTI has revealed that the Principals of at least 30 of 183
government-aided colleges affiliated to the University were not eligible for
the post, like Welukar.
Maharashtra
Governor Ch Vidhyasagar Rao has refrained Welukar from discharging his duties
and has handed over his charge to pro VC Naresh Chandra, after the Bombay High
Court raised doubts over Welukar’s eligibility for the top job. Interestingly,
all the 30 appointments of Principals took place during his tenure from
2012-15.
Snehal Donde,
Principal at Wada College and Management, had sought information on selection
process of the Principals under the RTI.
A detailed
analysis of the reply from the Office of Joint Director in the Higher Education
Department threw light on the principals’ ineligibility. Academic Performance
Indicator (API) is the main criterion for a candidate’s selection as Principal.
He/she must have at least 400 API to his/her credit to be eligible for the
post.
The API is
calculated in three categories. First is teaching, learning and evaluation
quality. The second is co-curricular extension and profession development
activities, and the third is research and publication of academic
contributions.
Every
category has different API. If a professor’s research paper is published in an
international journal he is awarded 25 API. However, if it is published in a
local journal he/she gets only 10 API.
The RTI reply
has revealed that 30 Principals were allotted 25 API for their papers published
in local journals, in violation of the rule.
Each had on
an average published eight papers in local journals so they got 200 API, half
the qualification mark, putting them ahead in the race.
A Principal
is not only responsible for introducing new courses and enhancing quality of
education, but also works as a financial and administrator of the particular
college. No grants can be released without his signature.
“In their cases, the actual API was 80. So if
the overall API is calculated, they stand disqualified for the job,” Donde
said.
She alleged
that the VC-nominated representatives and officials in the Joint Director’s
Office, who conducted the candidates’ interviews, were responsible for the
mess.
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