The University of Pune (UoP) has so far assigned nearly 150 selection committees for finalising the names of full-time principals at various
affiliated colleges across its jurisdiction of Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar.
Yet, the university has some way to go to ensure that all the affiliated colleges have full-time principals by the May 31 deadline set by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court. More than 260 of the over 500 affiliated colleges had no full-time principals when the court passed an order on December 3, 2008, laying a time-bound programme for filling these posts.
The absence of full-time principals is seen as one of the key factors behind the falling standards of education in colleges. The principal is the sole drawing and disbursing' authority with control over funds and grants available to an institution from difference sources. The principal's presence ensures effective control over the day-to-day functioning of an institution.
The university had been after the affiliated colleges to adhere to the norm of having a full-time appointee instead of officiating principals, who have several limitations in terms of smooth functioning of colleges. However, the managements demonstrated little intent to follow the varsity directives till the time when the high court order changed it all.
"The appointment process has gained momentum over the last one month," UoP's director of board of college and university development Pandit Vidyasagar told TOI on Tuesday. "So far, we have assigned nearly 150 selection committees for as many colleges."
According to Vidyasagar, the university will submit a detailed status report on the issue to the state government at the end of the court's deadline. "It will be up to the government to apprise the court about the situation that would emerge then."
The high court order makes it clear that the colleges which fail to appoint full-time principals by May 31 will be barred from effecting admissions to the first-year of the academic courses offered by them for 2009-10.