Governor pulls up Mumbai University VC for delayed exam results

Taking serious note of delays in announcing of results of various examinations of the University Of Mumbai, Governor C.V. Rao on Tuesday ordered Vice Chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh to declared all pending results by July 31.

In what was described in academic circles as an unprecedented step, the Governor, who is Chancellor of the varsity, also directed Deshmukh to submit a detailed strategy and roadmap for declaration of examinations results on schedule, under the provisions of Maharashtra Public Universities Act's Section 89.

Additionally, Rao has asked Additional Chief Secretary, Higher & Technical Education Sitaram Kunte to depute an official to monitor the progress in the university closely in real time and give a feedback to both, the state government and the Chancellor's office.

Deshmukh will have to set up a "war room" at his level along with other functionaries of the premier university to monitor the progress regarding declaration of results in real time, and also submit a daily report to the Governor's office.

A life sciences professor, Deshmukh, 51, who took over the post on July 7, 2015, was summoned by the Governor for a meeting at Raj Bhavan, along with Kunte and the Governor's Secretary Venugopal Reddy, on Tuesday.

The governor said that out of 477 examinations conducted by University of Mumbai, results of only 51 have been declared so far, and out of these, results of only 23 exams were announced within 30 days while the rest were declared within 45 days, which is the statutory limit.

As per the universities act, the university is mandated to declared results within 30 days, but in no case beyond 45 days.

Rao reminded Deshmukh that the delays in declaration of results could hamper the career of students, cause anxiety and hardship to them and their parents, and directed him "to make all out efforts" to declare all pending results by July 31.

The developments took place in the wake of reports in media and other sources of the inordinate delays in declaration of examinations results which affected students' admission to higher classes, professional or technical courses and even to foreign institutions.

--IANS

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