In a shocking development, the University of Mumbai has shut down the “student durbar” initiative that was started last year to address the examination-related problems faced by students. The reason being cited by the University authorities is that as exams are underway, there are insufficient officials to take up student complaints, forcing the University to shut down the durbar till after the exams.
However, according to a former student council member who was instrumental in getting the student durbar started last year, the initiative was aimed at helping students get their complaints pertaining to exams addressed at the earliest. “Students could lodge a complaint immediately after the day’s exam was over. This was very useful as it ensured that student problems were not swept under the carpet,” said the member.
“With the current examination fiasco, the durbar would have been an ideal way for students to convey their problems, but the decision to suspend the durbar till the completion of the exams is only exacerbating the problem,” said the senate member.
When asked, an official from the examination section said that due to the ongoing exams it was difficult to conduct the durbar and had to be suspended till the exams are over.
Senate member and another founding member of the durbar, Pradeep Sawant said, “The durbar will resume once the exams are over.”