23 more colleges seek Mumbai University nod at eleventh hour to start operations this year

MUMBAI: Mumbai University has received requests for approval of 23 new colleges at the eleventh hour. This, after 30 colleges were given permission to commence in July 2022.
While city colleges have already started their academic year, 23 new managements are keen to start operations in 2022 too.
Several members of the university's management council, though, are likely to oppose the proposal, stating it is too late in the day to start a new college.The management council meets on Wednesday and this will be the last one under the current vice chancellor, Suhas Pednekar, whose term ends in early September.
"Why is the university administration keen to grant permission to new colleges now? The academic calendar has already been rolled out. The delay in the Cabinet expansion has had a bearing on permission given by the university for additional 23 new colleges," said Pradeep Sawant, a senior management council member. Interestingly, some members are likely to approach the governor too regarding the same issue. "We have seen that the management council under the current VC is not fair. In case we don't have a majority of members opposing the starting of new colleges, we will approach the governor," he added.
After the MU gives its nod, the same needs to be ratified by the state government. Only after that can the college admit students. "One wonders who would even take admission in these newly set-up colleges so late in the day. And why can't these managements start operations next year," asked another MC member.
Meanwhile, some members complained that once again, the VC has called for an online meeting of the management council.
"The VC could travel to the US but when it boils down to real work, he holds online meetings. We protested against it the last time, sat outside the management council meeting hall but that has not deterred him from holding an online meeting again," said one.
The decision has infuriated members who said an online meeting does not allow them to argue on crucial points raised and the meetings go by "smoothly" as the management council is "managed". Most online meetings, members observed, were mere formalities as no detailed discussion took place.