Get a principal or lose affiliation, Pune varsity tells colleges

Colleges may not be allowed to admit students for the next academic year.

More than 260 science, arts and commerce colleges affiliated to one the country’s prominent University of Pune (UoP) may be barred from admitting students for the next academic year, if the college managements fail to appoint a full-time Principal by May 31.

More than 500 colleges in Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar districts are affiliated to UoP. About 260 of these have “officiating” principals handling the college administration for three to four years.Many colleges are delaying the appointment of a principal over issues like reservation for the apex post, unavailability of candidates, legal cases and internal hiccups. Following which, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court directed the UoP and the government of Maharashtra to take stringent action if these colleges do not appoint principals before the deadline.

Even popular institutions like S P College and Fergusson College did not have full-time principals. The posts were filled recently after the UoP issued strict directives in the wake of the court order. Although the appointment of a principal in SP college took more than six years due to certain internal problems, it was Fergusson College's persistence in finding a worthy candidate for this coveted position that lead to a delay.

A similar issue had cropped up at Nowrosjee Wadia College at the time of the appointment of its current Principal, Bhagwan Thakur. The post was reserved for the scheduled tribe category and the Modern Education Society, which governs the college, was finding it difficult to appoint a good candidate from this category for more than two years.

Speaking to Business Standard, UoP’s Board of College and University Development (BCUD) Chairman, Pandit Vidyasagar said, “We have complied a list of all such colleges. The same will be forwarded to the department of higher and technical education, government of Maharashtra by May 15.

Since the new academic year begins in June, the government will then take a final call by May 31 in accordance with the court order. When asked, why educational institutions have an apathy towards appointment of the apex position, Vidyasagar listed various reasons. “There are internal hiccups within the college management while in some cases, people have moved courts. Some institutions are not keen over filling posts that are reserved while unaided colleges are not able to afford the salary that a full-time principal deserves,” he added.

The quality of education delivered by colleges affiliated to UoP has been questioned by educational experts in the absence of a “full-time principal.” Even college administrators accept this fact. “A full-time principal who has powers to take key decisions is must for every college. However, college managements prefer a candidate who can act in their interest,” said a trustee of educational trust S P Mandali, which runs S P College, on condition of anonymity.

Another official, who is a member of Deccan Education Society which runs institutions like Fergusson College and Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) said: “The appointment of a principal is not a difficult task at all. However, the quota regime and the power a principal enjoys during the admission process, are two key issues over which, appointment of principal is delayed.”