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Key post in ​Mumbai University​ ​vacant since August 2015 for want of ​'​suitable person​'​

Varsity issued advt, shortlisted candidates twice but the committee headed by VC rejected all candidates

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Mumbai University
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On Monday when 160-year-old University of Mumbai held its convocation, the Vice Chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh announced his ambitious plan to explore possibilities to establish campuses abroad. 

Deshmukh further told the graduating students about his world tour plan which will begin from the United States where he plans to seek partnerships with existing universities to realise the aim of setting up a Mumbai University campus in the US.

Amid all ​the ​big talk, one thing which he didn’t tell the audience, deliberately or otherwise, ​was ​that his own house is not in order. Results of several semester examinations,​ ​including those of repeaters, are still awaited, thanks to the headless examination house which is lying vacant since August 2017. 

​The University which caters to more than eight lakh students is functioning without the key post of "Controller of Examination" for the last 17 months. Controller is responsible for smooth conduction of examinations, repeaters exam, results, revaluation, distribution of marksheets and degrees and most of these works have been marred in delays and irregularities.  

Shocking facts have come to light regarding inordinate delay in appointment of the Controller of Examinations in the University. 

​A ​​reply to an RTI query has revealed the University held the entire selection process for the controller’s post twice in the last two years. However, not a single candidate was found to be​ ​“suitable” for the most crucial job at the University. 

The RTI response reveals ​the ​University spent a total of Rs​ ​1.36 lakh on advertisements followed by shortlisting eligible candidates and holding personal interviews. 

However, the final selection committee headed by the Vice Chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh rejected all "eligible candidates", not once but twice. 

Mumbai University issued advertisement for the post on 17th August 2015 and then again on 16th August 2016. A sum of  ​Rs ​1​,​39,816 was spend on this exercises alone. Apart from this, Screening Committee was formed on both these occasion for shortlisting of eligible candidates for the post.

In 2015, Professor Abhay Pethe, Siddheshwar Gadhde and Ashok Mahajan were part of the screening committee. They shortlisted four “eligible” candidates out of 24 aspirants. 
On 9 May 2016, Sanjay Deshmukh Selection Committee rejected all these candidates citing “no candidate was found suitable”. 

In August 2016, this selection process was repeated again and the formalities of issuing advertisements were undertaken again. This time the sum spent on advertisements was reduced to ​Rs​ 48,048. 

After the second round of advertisements, a new four member scrutiny committee was constituted. Prof Abhay Pethe continued to be the member of this Committee also. While Vijay Joshi, Murlidhar Karhade and Uday Salunkhe were the new members. 

This time the committee shortlisted 10 candidates out of 14. On 5th October 2016,​ a​ high power committee headed by Sanjay Deshmukh once again rejected all as “no candidate was found suitable”. 

It is noteworthy the Fadnavis led BJP government had already dissolved all executive bodies of the​ ​14 state universities in August 2015 in the name of framing new laws to govern the varsities. The then Controller Dinesh Bhonde had quit in august 2015 only. Since then Deepak Wasave is handling the charge on temporary basis. 

Since then ad-hoc bodies headed by VCs and Registar are taking crucial decisions without any need of seeking approval from the elected bodies such as senate and deans, academic and management council. Teachers and employees bodies often termed these decisions as“arbitrary”. The new Maharashtra Universities Act has recently been approved by the legislature but yet to be implemented. 

"Keeping a sensitive post like Controller of Examinations vacant for long period is also violation of Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994," says RTI activist Anil Galgali who sought the information.

There is a provision of appointing an officer on deputation from any other department, if the post remains vacant for more than six months. But university didn't do even that," says Galgali. 

​He​ has also written to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appraising him of urgent need to appoint an officer on deputation. He has also demanded action on all those officer who violated the rules. 

Deputy registrar of the University, Dinesh Kamble, who applied for the post both the times, cries foul play.“The rule says no member of the selection panel should be associated with the varsity. However, Uday Salunkhe was part of the first panel despite being director of Welingkar institute of Management.”

Kamble has submitted his plaint to the Governor of Maharashtra who is the chancellor of all state varsities. 

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