Universities Act needs amendment, feel stakeholders

Aurangabad, Jan 23:

Stakeholders of the higher education field, members and representatives of different unions felt that there is a need to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act (MPUA) 2016. They suggested reducing nominated members' strength on boards and powers of Raj Bhavan to make the MPUA more students-centric.

The State Government set up the Maharashtra State University Act Evaluation Committee (MSUAVC) in October 2020 to amend the Public Universities Act 2016.

The panel led by Padmashree Dr Sukhadeo Thorat (former chairman, University Grants Commission) arrived in Bamu today. It held talks with the vice-chancellors and officers of both the non-agriculture universities of the Marathwada at university auditorium today. The committee has six members.

Vice-chancellor Dr Pramod Yeole, Dr Vijay Khole, Dr Rajan Velukar (both former VCs), Sheetal Deorukhar and Tukaram Shivre were present. Dr Narendra Chandra (former Pro-VC) participated in the interaction online. Pro-VC Dr Shyam Shirsath, registrar Dr Jaishri Suryavanshi, deans, statutory officers were present.

The committee office-bearers interacted with VCs, pro-VCs, registrars, directors of Board of Examinations and Evaluation, Finances and Accounts Officers, deputy registrars, department heads, teachers representatives, principals, Management of colleges, students representatives, non-teaching staff representatives, joint-director of Higher Education (Aurangabad) Dr Digamber Gaikwad. In the first session, panel coordinator Dr Vijay Khole gave details of all sessions.

Dr Sukhadeo Thorat said that six sub-committees were formed for the amendment in the Act. The committees held a meeting in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Aurangabad and received hundreds of memorandum. He said that the amendment would be done after studying universities of national and international level. VC Dr Yeole and Pro-VC Dr Shirsath also made suggestions.

Sanjay Shinde and Dr Anand Wagh conducted the proceedings of the sessions. Dr Punjabrao Padul proposed a vote of thanks.

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