With degree college teachers refusing to relent and call off their exam boycott, the government of Maharashtra has issued an order asking University heads and college principals to ensure that exams are held as per schedule and do not get postponed.
In the event of the exams getting postponed, the order states that the principals will be held responsible and action would be initiated against them.
The order issued on March 20 states that as per Section 31, 32, 71 and 72 of Maharashtra Universities Act 1994, all procedures, right from conducting the exams of the students to declaring their results, is the statutory responsibility of the University and college authorities.
The Government Resol-ution (GR) further suggests alternatives that could be used by colleges and the University to conduct the exam in the absence of striking degree college teachers and examiners.
The order comes in the light of the Maharashtra Federation of College and University Teachers Organisation (Mfucto) requesting MU authorities to postpone exams due to their decision to continue the protest against the state government.
The University of Mumbai on its part also issued a circular on Monday, which said, “It is the statutory responsibility of the University administration, college principals and management to ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations in the interest of the student community.”
The University circular has also asked colleges to request their teachers to participate in the exam process. In case the colleges fall short of manpower, they have been instructed to take help from the non-teaching staff, junior college teachers, school teachers, members of the management, retired teachers, bank employees, government servants, NGOs, former post-graduate and graduate students of the college for invigilation work.
“We expect colleges to have all arrangements pertaining to the exam. Though the degree college teachers have refused to cooperate, we will ensure that the exams are conducted smoothly and without any chaos. We have asked college principals to take the help of local state administration, including the police to ensure there is no chaos at exam centres,” said an official at the secretariat of controller of examination, MU.
MU will conduct a final mock drill of sending question papers through the Digital Exam Paper Delivery system (DEPDS) on March 26.
Principals aghast at the high-handedness of the government and their subsequent victimisation and have blamed the government for making the teachers’ boycott an ego issue.
“While all employees on the government payroll have got the fifth and sixth pay recommendation scales and arrears, why is it dragging its feet in the teachers’ issue. We are soft targets,” said the principal of a college from the western suburbs.