Nagpur University’s lethargic administration has finally woken up from deep slumber after TOI exposed its double standards in postponing
the Bachelor of Journalism (BJ) examination.
An official of examination department said the university has decided to withhold the results of first semester of MA in mass communication and also to not release timetable of the second semester examination that was supposed to be conducted in the next couple of months.
The university acted after TOI exposed its double standards in its April 23 edition, revealing that on the one hand it deferred the Bachelor of Journalism (BJ) examination as colleges failed to fulfil UGC norms while on the other hand it conducted the examination of newly introduced MA in Mass Communication course that comes under the same faculty in March.
University’s controller of examination (CoE) was not available for comments, but an official confirmed that the results of 30 students who appeared in MA Mass communication examination in March are ready but will not be released till further orders, fearing a fresh controversy.
Directives were framed for BJ and MA courses during a meeting of ad-hoc board of studies in mass communication held on March 12-14, 2007 and April 9-10 last year for implementation from the 2008-09 academic session. A copy of the VC’s directives in possession of TOI stated that these were issued with a view to develop professional skills and competency among students. These directions are issued by vice-chancellor S N Pathan in exercise of powers vested in him under section 14(8) of the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994.
Moreover, the directions for both the courses mentioned that there will be at least three full-time teachers appointed as per existing qualifications and recruitment conditions, laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
However, the university stalled the BJ examination for absence of regular teachers putting over 150 students in a quandary. But the university conducted MA examination along with practicals without a hitch and without a regular teacher.