Admission row: UoP acts to bring guilty to book

Two years after inquiry panel submitted report, varsity finally sends notices to employees indicted for PIO admission malpractices

Admission row: UoP acts to bring guilty to book

Two years after inquiry panel submitted report, varsity finally sends notices to employees indicted for PIO admission malpractices

Demanding action: Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) youth
wing, presented a memorandum of demands and a 'scarecrow' to the
UoP Vice-Chancellor R K Shevgaonkar for not taking action against the
corrupt officials indicted by the inquiry committee. A scuffle broke out
between the security personnel and the party members after the latter
tried to forcibly give the scarecrow to the VC. Pic/jignesh mistry

In 2009, a big row had started in the UoP over alleged irregularities in admissions of foreign students carried out through persons of Indian origin (PIO) quota by the University of Pune's International Students Centre (ISC). It was alleged that the students were given admissions to professional courses such as engineering and pharmacy though they were not eligible.

A four-member panel, had reviewed the PIO admissions between 2002 and 2007 and had indicted ISC's then officiating director Shantishree Pandit. A charge sheet was filed against Pandit and another committee was constituted under former high court judge J A Patil but no action was taken based on his recommendations. For two years, the UoP chose to remain passive.

R K Shevgaonkar, vice-chancellor of UoP, said: "I can not give the exact number or details but yes we have issued notices to employees named in this report. We are taking action," he confirmed.

Besides that, Shevgaonkar said that another committee's report that had been gathering dust - the Upasani committee report into irregularities of recruitment at the varsity - has also been taken up and notices sent out to employees mentioned in that report as well.

Entry tests
Following the row that foreign students were given admission to PhD courses despite not being eligible for them, Shevgaonkar said that now entrance tests and cut-off marks would be the same for all students irrespective of nationalities.

According to the Maharashtra University Act, 1994, the guidelines which make a foreign student eligible for a PhD course is 50 per cent marks in the post graduation (PG) and a 15-year experience after graduation in related fields. However, many foreign students were admitted at a lower cut-off and also it was alleged that they were given more number of seats than allotted.

"We are making entrance tests compulsory for all foreign students and we are working out a procedure on how we could do it online. The cut-offs are being monitored sharply and if any student found with low marks will be dealt with personally. Also from now on, a PhD guide would be allowed for only one foreign student and hence the ratio would be seven Indian students to one foreign student for PhD," said Vasudev Gade, director of Board of College and University Development.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels