In a move that has left students and people baffled, Nagpur University on 15th April formed a Students’ Council in the university but with only 13 days in its term.
This has not been received well by different groups and students and they have bashed the university for the misuse of authority, especially when it seems to be well calculated. The day the Student Union is supposed to be dissolved is the last day of the current academic session in operation. Due to the last two days of the month being holidays, the academic session is set to end on April 28.
The universities were informed about the Maharashtra Public Universities Act on 1stMarch, 2018 but neither the government nor the universities seem to be interested in the implementation of it. The university formed the Students’ Council according to the provisions in the old act and the university had already taken the decision in January and February.
NU outfits claim that no student-centric issues were raised by AashishMohite (Council President) and AkashThantharate(Secretary).
It is not just the students but also the teachers who have blamed the NU administration for delaying the process on purpose even when multiple student issues remained pending.
“It was done to complete the formalities,” said the Vice-Chancellor of NU, SP Kane regarding the thirteen day student council.
He stated that, “The council came into effect about two months ago. The function was held to hand over certificates. The government issued norms and procedure for formation of council in the last couple of months only. The common ordinance too was notified recently and the university implemented it.”
Senate members demanded that the session be extended until the start of the next session but the VC denied it saying that it was not permissible as per the act.
“The Students’ Council elections couldn’t be held and then the government asked universities to set up the body as per old process of nominations. But, that too has turned out to be futile exercise,” according to Anil Dhage, Secretary of Nagpur University Teachers’ Association (NUTA).
“We are used to such installation ceremonies in the presence of some big political leader. Nobody is serious now and that is the most unfortunate part,” Dhage added further.
“The entire council was formed in contravention of rules just to accommodate students belonging to colleges having backing of a particular organization close to power. The installed team won’t serve any purpose. It is misuse of the platform,” said a member of Senate from the graduates’ constituency, SaritaNimbarte.
