How college examinations in Maharashtra became a row between the CM and the Governor
While Thackeray is adamant on cancelling the examinations and passing the students based on their previous academic record, Koshyari, also the Chancellor of the universities, has warned that this will hamper the students’ future.
Around 10.50 lakh students have found themselves in a corner as Governor BS Koshyari and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray are at loggerheads over holding examinations of final year University courses. While Thackeray is adamant on cancelling the examinations and passing the students based on their previous academic record, Koshyari, also the Chancellor of the universities, has warned that this will hamper the students’ future.
The clashes began soon after Thackeray suspended Governor BS Koshyari’s rights, and announced in his Facebook address on May 31 that the final year examination will be scrapped and the students would be promoted on the basis of marks obtained in previous semesters. Thackeray also made a room available for the students who want to appear for the examinations, saying they can do so in September if they wish. He argued that the decision was necessary as the state has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Maharashtra has recorded 1,39,010 cases and 6,521 deaths so far.
Thackeray claimed that the government took the decision after a committee of the vice-chancellors of various universities submitted its recommendations on exploring ways to conduct the examination. Interestingly, Koshyari was not given a copy of these recommendations. The Governor has termed Thackeray’s announcement as “unprecedented and made without any profound thinking on the legal repercussions.” He warned that the decision would jeopardise the future of students. Koshyari has made it clear that he will issue directions only after accepting the committee’s report partially or fully once the report is submitted to him.
There are several practical difficulties in implementing Thackeray’s plan. Almost 40 per cent of the 3.5 lakh students are allowed to keep the term (ATKT). They were supposed to clear their pending subjects before the final examinations. The structure of professional courses also creates a hurdle in Thackeray’s plan as different colleges are governed by different councils at the central level. Medical colleges take instructions from Medical Council of India (MCI), pharmacy colleges from Pharmacy Council of India, architecture colleges from Council of Architecture, engineering colleges from All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and law colleges from the Bar Council of India. If a sensible decision is not taken the students will have to suffer for a long time.
(Courtesy of Mail Today)