Mumbai University VC Appointment Creates Problems

This is regarding the appointment of Dr. Rajan Velukar as Vice Chancellor of University of Mumbai.
1. Till very recently, the Governor used to appoint the Vice Chancellor by nomination. But now when the norms/rules regarding the selection of VC are decided and are operative for all the Universities coming under UGC the respective Search Committee is expected to adhere to them and select the candidate accordingly. One can see these norms on the web-site of the University.
2. But in the above appointment most of the norms are violated. Dr. Rajan Velukar was Deputy Secretary to Education in the office of the Governor at Raj Bhavan previous to his appointment as VC of YCMOU. It means he was in the Reader’s Scale. He was having the qualification of M. Phil. Degree when he joined YCMOU as the VC and he completed his Ph. D. afterwards while in the office of the Vice Chancellor.
3. When he applied for the post of Vice Chancellor at University of Mumbai his term as VC was already over which means when reverted back to his original position he was once again a Reader. Thus the basic qualification for the Vice Chancellor’s post that an applicant should hold the position either of a Professor or Principal is not seen in his case.
4. The Maharashtra Universities Act has clearly defined the curricula, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. His qualification as NSS coordinator certainly does not fall in the first category.
5. As far the research qualifications stated in the rules for selection of the Vice Chancellor’s position are concerned a careful scrutiny needs to be done as to whether he has articles in peer-reviewed journals, Ph. D. students, research projects etc.
6. The Amendment of Maharashtra Universities’ Act in October 2009 has demanded even the Heads of Departments contesting for Board of Studies with Ph. D. degree and the articles in reputed journals. When the Vice Chancellor does not have them will it be fair to execute these clauses?
7. At the college teachers’ promotions at various levels e.g. Senior Grade, Selection Grade etc. also the no. of research articles are to be stated with proof along with the Orientation and the Refresher Courses done by the respective lecturer. Dr. Velukar’s previous positions are to be analysed from this point as well.
8. The recognition of the M. Phil. Degrees of YCMOU has been in danger since when he was in the chair of VC there. The question is why did these degrees lost their academic importance even he was in tenure?
9. Much has been talked about negligence over the re-accreditation process of the University. Now when the NAAC committee arrives what qualifications and academic activities are to be projected of the Head of the University? In the entire process wherein actual marks are allotted, the academic profile of the Head also matters. The matter can’t be brushed aside saying that the VC specializes in NSS and NCC activities. Abroad there are some universities with specification e.g. Sports University. But University of Mumbai has Arts, Science and Commerce faculties as important faculties along with the other ones.

These are just some of the important points. The melancholic atmosphere and the apprehension that any sub-standard person can ascend the throne of the Vice Chancellor are on the rise with the above appointment. Hence, a thorough enquiry in this matter is the need of the hour. Were there no better candidates? Why did the Search Committee not select the person with research and administration? Why did the Governor’s office play the role of the maker of the Vice Chancellor? These are just some of the questions that pop up again and again.

This is with regards to the appointment of the VC of Mumbai University. My observations are as below:
1. Till very recently, the Governor had the right to appoint the VC by nomination. But now, the rules set for the appointment of VCs (which are observed in the case of rest of the Univeristies of India) are to be followed. They are available on the web-site of Mumbai University. Going by these rules the credentials of the newly appointed VC need to be scrutinised. In fact a gross injustice has been done in the case of other candidates, many of whom qualify the research and administration criteria.
2. The degree of M. Phil. of YCMOU has been derecognised when Dr. Velukar was the VC there.
3. The Amendment of the Maharashtra Universities’ Act in October 2009 demands that all the academic bodies of the Universities will have persons holding Ph. D. They should also have articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Thus the academic abilities of a VC who does not have academic standing is seriously questionable.
4. For all the teachers’ promotions e.g. for the grades like senior lecturer, selection grade the teachers must have published articles along with Orientation and Refresher Courses. At the backdrop of this one wonders as to what kind of academic achievement the newly appointed VC must have shown on record at the time of his promotions then. This is because he was holding the qualification of only M. Phil. when he joined as VC of YCMOU.
5. When he appiled for the post of VC at Mumbai University his term as VC of YCMOU was over. Then the question is, to which position was he reverted back? He was not a Professor at the time of being appointed as VC of YCMOU. Thus at the time of applying in Mumbai University for the post of VC he was not a Professor, the basic qualification that is required for being appointed as VC.
6. There is a clear distiction, as has been pointed out by the Maharashtra Universities Act between academic activities and co-curricular activities and extra-curricular activities. NCC and NSS are not taken as academic activities. Hence, if a person has organised such programmes he/she cannot be said to have contributed to academic activity.
7. A lot has been heard about Mumbai University’s negligence towards re-accreditation. Now, under the newly appointed VC, when the NAAC Committee arrives for inspection, the profile of the head of the institution woul be questionable. I wonder whether Mumbai University will project the leader’s NCC and NSS activities as academic achievements? Mumbai University will certainly lose marks on that account (Actually, the marks are allotted to various matters. The NAAC criteria are available on the internet. One can see them freely.)

I have stated only some of the important points. There can be many more. From the above-mentioned points I state sadly here that a University like Mumbai University having a great academic tradition is put to a melancholic state. I ernestly ask the Search Committee as to whether there were really no candidtaes?One can smell something different! But the wrong needs to be corrected.