MUMBAI: While the city civic corporation has not given a green signal to start colleges, the minister of higher and technical education, Uday Samant, has decided to hole a “darbar” on February 22 at Jamboree Maidan, Worli, where he will meet students, parents, teachers and non-teaching staff and address their grievances.
The responsibility of setting up the venue, arranging the seating and meeting other expenses is on the two city varsities, Mumbai University and SNDT University. Members of the senate and management council said they failed to understand the reasoning behind this gathering; most asked what authority the minister had to solve problems faced by any of the stakeholders.
“Just the manner in which universities of Kolhapur, Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Solapur and Nanded implemented the programme, both universities (of Mumbai) have to put together the event,” said a circular issued by the state’s higher and technical education department. For the last two weeks, Samant, who belongs to the Shiv Sena, has been on a statewide tour, visiting all the state public universities. University authorities have also been made in charge of organizing the lodging, boarding and travel-related issues of all those who will come from outside Mumbai.
Management council member Vaibhav Narawde asked, “Why is the government interfering in the work of the university? The programme sheet states travellers need to contact the registrars of Mumbai and SNDT University for the cost of accommodation, transportation and arrangements. If this programme is to solve problems in the field of education, it will be taken up by responsible officers of the university who will follow procedures laid out under the University Act.” He added, “The government should not interfere. The university is autonomous.” The ABVP too condemned the move and questioned the minister’s decision to hold a gathering when colleges are not being allowed to open.
“Also, why Worli? Because it is minister Aditya Thackeray’s constituency?” asked another senate member. He added, “Universities have a faculty grievance committee and students’ grievance panels. Why is the minister getting involved if he cannot take any decisions? State universities have their authority bodies, and the buck stops with the chancellor, not with the minister.” TOI tried to get in touch with Samant but he was unavailable for comment.