Only 3 engineering colleges in Mumbai have varsity affiliation

Out of the 61 engineering colleges located in and around the city that function under the Mumbai University guidelines, only three are affiliated to the varsity, an RTI query has revealed.
In response to the RTI query filed by a Mumbai-based NGO, Citizen Forum For Sanctity in Educational System (CFSES), the university said that 58 engineering colleges have not been granted affiliation and a few of them have been running without it since 2008-09.
The RTI had sought to know the details of the affiliation granted to various technical colleges in Mumbai.
"There are certain rules that technical institutes need to follow to get permanent affiliation from Mumbai University. If the basic rules are not complied with, the colleges have an option of seeking temporary affiliation and the college pays fees every year for this purpose," Subhash Athavale, member of CFSES told PTI.

In order to obtain temporary affiliation, the university sends a local inspection committee to every college each year to check whether it meets all the norms and facilities as required by the All India Committee for Technical Education (AICTE) and the university guidelines.
However, he alleged that for the last five years, the university has not sent any inspection committee to any college and hence affiliation could not be granted.

"The courts should take a suo moto action against the university authorities for playing with the careers of students. There are so many students working abroad on these degrees. This lapse on the part of the university may have serious consequences on their future prospects," Athavale alleged.

When contacted, university officials confirmed that though the granting of extension of affiliation was delayed, the process has now been initiated.
"The process of endorsing the extension of affiliation was delayed by the university for some or the other reason. However, that does not mean they are running without affiliations. As of today, the inspection committee has visited all the 58 engineering colleges and have submitted their report. The process for the approval of an extension is on," Dr Maqsood Khan, Registrar of the Mumbai University said.