nagpur :- Unending wait for PhD aspirants as NU VC fails to clear files

It's a well-known fact that Nagpur University always acts against the interests of the students. In another example of such actions, NU administration has failed to give registration of title to nearly 200 students pursuing their doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree in engineering and other faculties.

If this is not enough, over 350 files are pending for want of a panel of experts. These files had already been cleared by the research recognition committee (RRC) during a meeting on June 14.

As per sources, after former bosses - vice chancellor SN Pathan and pro-VC GS Parasher - demitted office on July 14, the entire work leading to PhDs has been crippled. Hundreds of files are pending with the officiating VC BV Gopala Reddy, who is also the divisional commissioner.

However, insiders admit that even during the tenure of the full time VC and pro-VC, the situation wasn't any better. This attitude though is appalling when the demand for PhDs is at a peak and the degree is a must for appointment of lecturers and principals owing to the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court deadlines.

Sources added that if their files were not cleared, innocent students will have to wait for a year till the new bodies of RRC, board of studies (BoS) and board of examinations (BoE) are constituted. All these bodies along with the management, academic councils and senate were dissolved after their five-year term expired on August 31.

Shockingly, deputy registrar with NU's PhD cell SS Bharambe was not aware of this development. "I will look into the matter. You contact me on Monday. But as far as my knowledge is concerned, the process of all pending theses had begun," he told TOI.

Reddy refused to take calls as usual despite repeated attempts. The issue of huge number of files pending with Reddy was first raised by TOI. This tendency of NU bosses is severely affecting the overall functioning of the institution, with students being the ultimate sufferers.

Sources said that both officiating VC and pro-VC Arvind Chaudhary can solve the students problems under special powers given to them as per section 14(7) and 32(4) of Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994. Both of them can bail out the 200 students not awarded PhD registration despite submitting synopsis, since the board of university teaching and research (BUTR) term ended on August 31.

Even in the case of over 350 students, who are patiently waiting since the NU failed to appoint referees (experts), the bosses can appoint ad hoc bodies to clear the files. Even the work of NU officials would be easier if these files are cleared, but the officiating bosses seem to be in no mood to do so, and will probably leave it to the new VC and statutory bodies to clear the backlog.

The agony of PhD aspirants in NU is unending, not only are their topics withheld for unknown reasons, even completed theses are also put on hold for years. Moreover, meetings of RRCs, which approve synopsis/degrees, are not conducted for months. The viva-voce takes a long time to be organised. Even after getting RRC nod, NU clerks takes three to four months to post the approval letters to the students, students allege.