Over 50 per cent of teaching posts in MU’s PG courses still vacant

Varsity blames delay on pandemic; says the state government’s approval is needed for these appointments

More than half of the teaching posts in the Mumbai University’s PG department are lying vacant, fresh data has revealed. According to the data made available to senate members, of the 368 approved/sanctioned posts of professors for postgraduate courses in the university’s 34 departments, a total of 222 posts—over 50 per cent posts—are yet to be filled.

Senate members have said that this is affecting the quality of teaching at postgraduate sections, and questioned how the MU managed to get an A+ grade by the NAAC, despite such a high percentage of vacant posts. “When I questioned the university administration about this, they said that only 146 positions, of the total 368 approved/sanctioned posts are filled. The process of appointments for the vacant posts is still on. However, this is affecting  PG students,” said Sudhakar Tamboli, MU senate member. 

The MU, on the other hand, has clarified that it needs the state government’s approval for appointments to these posts. “Even though the posts are sanctioned, the appointments of candidates to these posts require  government approval, as per the rule. Yes, there is an issue, but not a deliberate one. The appointments have been delayed due to the pandemic. During the pandemic, the proposals for appointments couldn’t be approved. The process for the same has begun,” said Sudhir Puranik, registrar, Mumbai University. An official from the higher education department also blamed the pandemic for the delay. “The appointments will be approved soon,” the official said.

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