DECISIONS TAKEN
(a). RESTORING THE PROFESSORS’ GRADE TO THE PRINCIPALS
Prin. Mantri informed that in the V pay commission, Principal’s pay scale was at par with the Professors payscale. In the VI pay though it is clearly mentioned that Principal’s pay scale should be in the pay band of Rs.37400- Rs. 67000 with AGP of Rs. 10,000/- and to be fixed at minimum basic pay of Rs. 43, 000/. Unfortunately while fixing Principal’s payscale they were fixed at the minimum with basic pay of Rs. 37400/-. i.e. in Associate Professor’s grade. Thus completely deviated from the actual recommendations. Prin. Sarkar said that ANGC in the beginning took up this issue with the principal Secretary of Higher and Technical Education, Govt. of Maharashtra. However, there was no follow up from the ANGC hence need constant follow up.
It was unanimously decided that a letter be sent to the Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Govt. of Maharashtra to make principal’s basic pay at par with professor as per the recommendations of the VI Pay Commission.
(b): CLARIFICATION ON THE APPLICABILITY OF THE PBAS FORMAT AND
THE API SCORES AND TENURED APPOINTMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL.
Prin. Mantri placed the following two issues before the members present:
(i) Applicability of PBAS based API Scores and
(ii) Tenured appointment of principals.
Prin. Mantri informed the members that as per the para 4.2.0 of the UGC Regulation 2010 and approved and accepted by the State Government & University of Mumbai, norms for qualification for the post of Principals are as under:
a. Ph.D. Degree and 55% at Masters level.
b. Associate Professor / Professor with 15 years of teaching /research/administration in Universities / colleges / institution of Higher Education
c. A minimum API score as stipulated based PBAS format as prescribed for Direct recruitment of Professors i.e. 100 (category I & II taken together) and 300 for category III.
Prin. Mantri informed the members that when the V Pay Commission was implemented wherein Ph.D. was made a mandatory qualification for the post of Principals, Government of Maharashtra vide its G.R no. NGC-1201/99637/ (4/2001) Vi.Shi-4 dated 28/05/2001 exempted the Principal’s appointment and approved prior to 4/4/2000 are exempted from the revised qualification.
The Government of Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Department has accepted the UGC Regulation 2010 vide its G.R. no. Sankirna – 2011 / (25/11) Vi.Shi-1 dated 15.02.2011.
Prin. Mantri informed the members that as per the information available the office of the Joint Director has regularized appointments of some principals in Panvel and Konkan Region who do not satisfy the requirement of API score. This is hear say information and needs verification.
It was unanimously decided to write to the Government authorities seeking clarification on (i) and (ii) above as to
a. The applicability of the API based on PBAS format,
b. Further as per para 5.1.6. of the UGC Regulation 2010, the term of appointment of the college Principal shall be FIVE year with eligibility of reappointment for one more term after the Selection Committee Process.
The Principal’s present unanimously opined that the revised norms of qualification for Principal’s post as well as the tenure of 5 years must be applicable from prospective date i.e. the date of issue of the G.R. and should not be applicable to the Principal’s appointed and approved prior to the issue of the G.R. i.e. 15.02.2011.
It was unanimously decided to request the officials of Government of Maharashtra to issue clarification as to whether (the revised norms of qualification as specified in para 4.2.0 of the UGC Regulation 2010 is applicable to
1. Principal’s appointed and approved prior to the date of issue of the G.R. no.
Sankirna – 2011 / (25/11) Vi.Shi-1 dated 15.02.2011. OR
2. Principals appointed after the issue of the Government Resolution dated
15/02/2011.
Dr. Mrs. Parvati Venkatesh raised the issue of guidance experience of Principal which essentially is the part of the PBAS format and not the qualification norms.
(c): PAYMENT OF ARREARS
It was decided to write a letter to the Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Govt. of Maharashtra to release the arrears from 1/1/2006 of Principals , Teachers and other academic staff immediately or at a date as convenient to the government along with simple interest of 8% per annum.
(d): IMPLEMENTATION OF CAS
A draft report on appointment and Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) as per the UGC Regulations, 2010 was submitted by the Committee under the convener-ship of Prin. Mantri and others, to the University on 02/02/2012 with various recommendations. It is believed that the Academic Council (AC) of the University of Mumbai has approved the draft report vide AC meeting held on 25/07/2012 whereas the Management Council (MC) in its meeting held on 22/12/2012 has approved the draft report sans the recommendations made by the Committee. Notification to this effect by the University is pending for a very long period. All CAS pending cases will be dealt with the University vis-a-vis by the colleges concerned only after the notification by the University.
It was unanimously decided to write a letter to the Registrar requesting him to
i.Issue the circular related implementation of the CAS along with the PBAS format prescribed for the various categories of staff i.e. Teachers, Librarian, Sports Directors etc.
ii.Clarify as to what shall be the date of implementation and placement of staff otherwise eligible for promotion to the higher stage but was pending on account of non-availability of the circular and norms from the University?
iii. Clarify as regards to the fixation of a teacher who is Ph.D. and is placed is stage 4 (Associate Professor) as on 1.1.2006 and are otherwise eligible to be promoted to stage 5 i.e. (Professor) but for the norms of API based on PBAS format.
(e): DIFFICULTIES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF SEMESTER BASED CREDIT
AND GRADING SYSTEM (SBCGS)
This is the Second year of the implementation of SBGCS. Teachers, Members of the Examination Committees and Principals are Colleges are facing difficulties and are encountering problems in implementing the SBCGS.
i. Dr. (Mrs.) Kavita Rege suggested that additional examinations shall be scrapped on account of the number of examinations to be conducted and the frequency of examinations to be conducted. Dr. Sarkar clarified that this would be injustice to students who are participating in co curricular activities on behalf of the colleges. Prin. Mantri clarified that the old examination system also allowed two attempts to students in each term and so in the new examination system.
ii. Attention was drawn to the fact that conversion of marks of students from old examination system (Annual Pattern) to the new examination system i.e. SBCGS is yet to be done by the University.
iii. Prin. Kavita Rege raised the issue of examination fee. She feels that examination fee need to be revised and to be levied twice in a year. However colleges are not in a position to do so for the want of University circular.
iv. Attention was also drawn about the difficulties faced by the college in processing the results f students who have completed to first to semester of BMS/BAF/BBI/BFM and are admitted to the Second Year of B.Com. under the SBCGS in terms of discrepancy in the credits earned by a student of the SFC in the first year as compared to the credits earned by the student of the first year of B.Com. Course.
It was decided to write a letter to the Vice Chancellor and the Pro-Vice Chancellor informing them about the above matters and request them to issue circulars / clarification immediately so that proper remedial and corrective actions can be initiated by the colleges.
(f): DIFFICULTIES ARISING DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT POLICY OF GRANTING PERMISSION TO RECRUIT ONLY 3% OF THE POSTS
The recent circular issued by the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education, Govt. of Maharashtra enforcing partial ban on recruitment of posts in all categories including in teaching in colleges. It was also brought to the notice that even promotion benefit to non teaching staff is withheld only in Mumbai under the pretext of the latest circular of filling vacancy.
Further During the period when there was ban on recruitment and promotion by the government, the staff then appointed would not be promoted. As a result there is a vaccum between the higher cadre and the lower cadres in the non teaching staff. There are many colleges where the Head Clerk is to retire but there is no senior clerk with the required experience to be promoted as Head Clerk. It was suggested that the government be requested to relax the norms of experience in the form that say e.g.a college wants to fill the post of Head Clerk by promotion but has a senior clerk say “A” with one years experience (as Senior clerk) and seven years experience as Junior Clerk. Our request to the government is to permit such promotions since the senior clerk “A” whereas for promotions has total of eight years of experience (1 year as Senior Clerk and 7 years as Junior clerk) instead of having 3 years of experience as Senior Clerk and 3 years as Junior Clerk as required. This would ensure that the staff is promoted and the collages have adequate senior staff to ensure smooth and effective administration.
Prin. Rokade informed that recruitment ban is not applicable to reserved categories in colleges.
Prin. Dr. Magare pointed out that pension benefits are being denied to non-teaching staff who aware appointed on Compassionate Grounds after seeking due approvals and which were approved by the then Joint Directors and other authorities. It was decided to write a letter to the Government requesting them to issue instructions to the officers concerned to approve of the pensions in such cases.
He suggested that it is a fit case to the approach the Hon. High Court of Bombay after collecting information from colleges concerned.
(g): ANY OTHER MATTER
In any other matter following issues were discussed and resolved.
1.In view of the increase in the work at the colleges related to the TY examinations, it was decided to write a letter to the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor to reduce the university share of the FY and the SY examinations from 25% to 10% and to give 50% share of the TY examination fees collected by the University.
2. Principal’s present expressed their deep dissatisfaction with the functioning of the MKCL software and the services offered by MKCL. It was decided to write a letter to the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor informing him about the feelings of the Principal’s present and to further instruct MKCL not to directly communicate with the Principals i.e. all the communications regarding enrollment, examinations etc must come through the University authorities. it was further decided to request the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor to instruct MKCL to keep all it links open 24 x 7 so that the college can access the site and fill/update the information as per the work-schedule of the college.
3.Dr. (Mrs.) Geeta Mohan showed her concern about the inordinate delay in declaring revaluation results which cause inconvenience to students concerned. Other principals present agreed with Dr. (Mrs.) Geeta Mohan. It was also decided to write to the University to expedite the revaluation process so that students concerned can be informed about the result of revaluation before he/she appears in the next examination/s.
4.It was unanimously decided that we shall have such get-togethers once in every month preferably on second Saturday of the month. The next get-together will be held on 13/04/2013. Prin (Dr.) Ajit Singh proposed that the venue of the next meeting also should at Juhu Jagruti Hall c/o of Mithibai College Building which was accepted by all present.
5.The on-going boycott of the teachers of examinations and its related duties of all the examinations conducted by the University or conducted by the Colleges on behalf of the University has adversely affected the conduct of the Semester End examinations of Semester II and Semester IV at many of the colleges. These examinations are conducted by the colleges on behalf of the University and are of equal importance as the thirds year examinations. Hence in order to ensure smooth, effective and efficient conduct of the FY, SY and TY examinations, It was unanimously decided to request the University to postpone the Third Year Examinations by about 3 weeks which will enable the colleges to conduct the FY and SY Examinations and complete the assessment of the answer papers of these examinations after which the teachers can concentrate on the Third year examination.
6.As there was no other matter to discuss the meeting was terminated with vote of thanks to all the Principal’s and their representatives present for the get-to-gather.
Prin.Sunil B Mantri Prin. Dr.Debajit N. Sarkar Prin. Dr.Bhaskar Trivedi
(HOSTS OF THE GET TOGETHER)
========================================================
ACTION TAKEN REPORT
Letters addressed to Shri Rajesh Tope, Hon.Minister of Higher and Technical education, Govt. of Maharashtra, submitted. Meeting fixed on 11/9/13.
Prin. Mantri informed that in the V pay commission, Principal’s pay scale was at par with the Professors payscale. In the VI pay though it is clearly mentioned that Principal’s pay scale should be in the pay band of Rs.37400- Rs. 67000 with AGP of Rs. 10,000/- and to be fixed at minimum basic pay of Rs. 43, 000/. Unfortunately while fixing Principal’s payscale they were fixed at the minimum with basic pay of Rs. 37400/-. i.e. in Associate Professor’s grade. Thus completely deviated from the actual recommendations. Prin. Sarkar said that ANGC in the beginning took up this issue with the principal Secretary of Higher and Technical Education, Govt. of Maharashtra. However, there was no follow up from the ANGC hence need constant follow up.
It was unanimously decided that a letter be sent to the Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Govt. of Maharashtra to make principal’s basic pay at par with professor as per the recommendations of the VI Pay Commission.
(b): CLARIFICATION ON THE APPLICABILITY OF THE PBAS FORMAT AND
THE API SCORES AND TENURED APPOINTMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL.
Prin. Mantri placed the following two issues before the members present:
(i) Applicability of PBAS based API Scores and
(ii) Tenured appointment of principals.
Prin. Mantri informed the members that as per the para 4.2.0 of the UGC Regulation 2010 and approved and accepted by the State Government & University of Mumbai, norms for qualification for the post of Principals are as under:
a. Ph.D. Degree and 55% at Masters level.
b. Associate Professor / Professor with 15 years of teaching /research/administration in Universities / colleges / institution of Higher Education
c. A minimum API score as stipulated based PBAS format as prescribed for Direct recruitment of Professors i.e. 100 (category I & II taken together) and 300 for category III.
Prin. Mantri informed the members that when the V Pay Commission was implemented wherein Ph.D. was made a mandatory qualification for the post of Principals, Government of Maharashtra vide its G.R no. NGC-1201/99637/ (4/2001) Vi.Shi-4 dated 28/05/2001 exempted the Principal’s appointment and approved prior to 4/4/2000 are exempted from the revised qualification.
The Government of Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Department has accepted the UGC Regulation 2010 vide its G.R. no. Sankirna – 2011 / (25/11) Vi.Shi-1 dated 15.02.2011.
Prin. Mantri informed the members that as per the information available the office of the Joint Director has regularized appointments of some principals in Panvel and Konkan Region who do not satisfy the requirement of API score. This is hear say information and needs verification.
It was unanimously decided to write to the Government authorities seeking clarification on (i) and (ii) above as to
a. The applicability of the API based on PBAS format,
b. Further as per para 5.1.6. of the UGC Regulation 2010, the term of appointment of the college Principal shall be FIVE year with eligibility of reappointment for one more term after the Selection Committee Process.
The Principal’s present unanimously opined that the revised norms of qualification for Principal’s post as well as the tenure of 5 years must be applicable from prospective date i.e. the date of issue of the G.R. and should not be applicable to the Principal’s appointed and approved prior to the issue of the G.R. i.e. 15.02.2011.
It was unanimously decided to request the officials of Government of Maharashtra to issue clarification as to whether (the revised norms of qualification as specified in para 4.2.0 of the UGC Regulation 2010 is applicable to
1. Principal’s appointed and approved prior to the date of issue of the G.R. no.
Sankirna – 2011 / (25/11) Vi.Shi-1 dated 15.02.2011. OR
2. Principals appointed after the issue of the Government Resolution dated
15/02/2011.
Dr. Mrs. Parvati Venkatesh raised the issue of guidance experience of Principal which essentially is the part of the PBAS format and not the qualification norms.
(c): PAYMENT OF ARREARS
It was decided to write a letter to the Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Govt. of Maharashtra to release the arrears from 1/1/2006 of Principals , Teachers and other academic staff immediately or at a date as convenient to the government along with simple interest of 8% per annum.
(d): IMPLEMENTATION OF CAS
A draft report on appointment and Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) as per the UGC Regulations, 2010 was submitted by the Committee under the convener-ship of Prin. Mantri and others, to the University on 02/02/2012 with various recommendations. It is believed that the Academic Council (AC) of the University of Mumbai has approved the draft report vide AC meeting held on 25/07/2012 whereas the Management Council (MC) in its meeting held on 22/12/2012 has approved the draft report sans the recommendations made by the Committee. Notification to this effect by the University is pending for a very long period. All CAS pending cases will be dealt with the University vis-a-vis by the colleges concerned only after the notification by the University.
It was unanimously decided to write a letter to the Registrar requesting him to
i.Issue the circular related implementation of the CAS along with the PBAS format prescribed for the various categories of staff i.e. Teachers, Librarian, Sports Directors etc.
ii.Clarify as to what shall be the date of implementation and placement of staff otherwise eligible for promotion to the higher stage but was pending on account of non-availability of the circular and norms from the University?
iii. Clarify as regards to the fixation of a teacher who is Ph.D. and is placed is stage 4 (Associate Professor) as on 1.1.2006 and are otherwise eligible to be promoted to stage 5 i.e. (Professor) but for the norms of API based on PBAS format.
(e): DIFFICULTIES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF SEMESTER BASED CREDIT
AND GRADING SYSTEM (SBCGS)
This is the Second year of the implementation of SBGCS. Teachers, Members of the Examination Committees and Principals are Colleges are facing difficulties and are encountering problems in implementing the SBCGS.
i. Dr. (Mrs.) Kavita Rege suggested that additional examinations shall be scrapped on account of the number of examinations to be conducted and the frequency of examinations to be conducted. Dr. Sarkar clarified that this would be injustice to students who are participating in co curricular activities on behalf of the colleges. Prin. Mantri clarified that the old examination system also allowed two attempts to students in each term and so in the new examination system.
ii. Attention was drawn to the fact that conversion of marks of students from old examination system (Annual Pattern) to the new examination system i.e. SBCGS is yet to be done by the University.
iii. Prin. Kavita Rege raised the issue of examination fee. She feels that examination fee need to be revised and to be levied twice in a year. However colleges are not in a position to do so for the want of University circular.
iv. Attention was also drawn about the difficulties faced by the college in processing the results f students who have completed to first to semester of BMS/BAF/BBI/BFM and are admitted to the Second Year of B.Com. under the SBCGS in terms of discrepancy in the credits earned by a student of the SFC in the first year as compared to the credits earned by the student of the first year of B.Com. Course.
It was decided to write a letter to the Vice Chancellor and the Pro-Vice Chancellor informing them about the above matters and request them to issue circulars / clarification immediately so that proper remedial and corrective actions can be initiated by the colleges.
(f): DIFFICULTIES ARISING DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT POLICY OF GRANTING PERMISSION TO RECRUIT ONLY 3% OF THE POSTS
The recent circular issued by the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education, Govt. of Maharashtra enforcing partial ban on recruitment of posts in all categories including in teaching in colleges. It was also brought to the notice that even promotion benefit to non teaching staff is withheld only in Mumbai under the pretext of the latest circular of filling vacancy.
Further During the period when there was ban on recruitment and promotion by the government, the staff then appointed would not be promoted. As a result there is a vaccum between the higher cadre and the lower cadres in the non teaching staff. There are many colleges where the Head Clerk is to retire but there is no senior clerk with the required experience to be promoted as Head Clerk. It was suggested that the government be requested to relax the norms of experience in the form that say e.g.a college wants to fill the post of Head Clerk by promotion but has a senior clerk say “A” with one years experience (as Senior clerk) and seven years experience as Junior Clerk. Our request to the government is to permit such promotions since the senior clerk “A” whereas for promotions has total of eight years of experience (1 year as Senior Clerk and 7 years as Junior clerk) instead of having 3 years of experience as Senior Clerk and 3 years as Junior Clerk as required. This would ensure that the staff is promoted and the collages have adequate senior staff to ensure smooth and effective administration.
Prin. Rokade informed that recruitment ban is not applicable to reserved categories in colleges.
Prin. Dr. Magare pointed out that pension benefits are being denied to non-teaching staff who aware appointed on Compassionate Grounds after seeking due approvals and which were approved by the then Joint Directors and other authorities. It was decided to write a letter to the Government requesting them to issue instructions to the officers concerned to approve of the pensions in such cases.
He suggested that it is a fit case to the approach the Hon. High Court of Bombay after collecting information from colleges concerned.
(g): ANY OTHER MATTER
In any other matter following issues were discussed and resolved.
1.In view of the increase in the work at the colleges related to the TY examinations, it was decided to write a letter to the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor to reduce the university share of the FY and the SY examinations from 25% to 10% and to give 50% share of the TY examination fees collected by the University.
2. Principal’s present expressed their deep dissatisfaction with the functioning of the MKCL software and the services offered by MKCL. It was decided to write a letter to the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor informing him about the feelings of the Principal’s present and to further instruct MKCL not to directly communicate with the Principals i.e. all the communications regarding enrollment, examinations etc must come through the University authorities. it was further decided to request the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor to instruct MKCL to keep all it links open 24 x 7 so that the college can access the site and fill/update the information as per the work-schedule of the college.
3.Dr. (Mrs.) Geeta Mohan showed her concern about the inordinate delay in declaring revaluation results which cause inconvenience to students concerned. Other principals present agreed with Dr. (Mrs.) Geeta Mohan. It was also decided to write to the University to expedite the revaluation process so that students concerned can be informed about the result of revaluation before he/she appears in the next examination/s.
4.It was unanimously decided that we shall have such get-togethers once in every month preferably on second Saturday of the month. The next get-together will be held on 13/04/2013. Prin (Dr.) Ajit Singh proposed that the venue of the next meeting also should at Juhu Jagruti Hall c/o of Mithibai College Building which was accepted by all present.
5.The on-going boycott of the teachers of examinations and its related duties of all the examinations conducted by the University or conducted by the Colleges on behalf of the University has adversely affected the conduct of the Semester End examinations of Semester II and Semester IV at many of the colleges. These examinations are conducted by the colleges on behalf of the University and are of equal importance as the thirds year examinations. Hence in order to ensure smooth, effective and efficient conduct of the FY, SY and TY examinations, It was unanimously decided to request the University to postpone the Third Year Examinations by about 3 weeks which will enable the colleges to conduct the FY and SY Examinations and complete the assessment of the answer papers of these examinations after which the teachers can concentrate on the Third year examination.
6.As there was no other matter to discuss the meeting was terminated with vote of thanks to all the Principal’s and their representatives present for the get-to-gather.
Prin.Sunil B Mantri Prin. Dr.Debajit N. Sarkar Prin. Dr.Bhaskar Trivedi
(HOSTS OF THE GET TOGETHER)
========================================================
ACTION TAKEN REPORT
Letters addressed to Shri Rajesh Tope, Hon.Minister of Higher and Technical education, Govt. of Maharashtra, submitted. Meeting fixed on 11/9/13.