Despite series of paper leak & goof-ups, VC yet to appoint pro-VC

NAGPUR: Even after sensational BCCA paper leak and series of goof-ups, first exposed by TOI,
Nagpur University administration has failed to take lessons. In one and half years of his tenure, vice chancellor Vilas Sapkal has not even thought of appointing a pro-VC who generally looks after examination work in the university. Chancellor K Sankaranarayanan's office in Mumbai has confirmed this development."No such proposal has been received from NU office till date," chancellor's secretary Vikas Rastogi told TOI adding that whenever they will receive it, they will consider it.
NU PRO Prashant Mohite couldn't be contacted but he had earlier told TOI that efforts were underway to fill up this post.
Interestingly, NU is not alone of not having pro-VC. As many as nine other traditional universities, including Pune and Amravati, haven't appointed them till date. As per the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, any university having over 150 colleges should have a pro-VC who will look after exam and Research Recognition Committee (For awarding PhD degrees) works. NU with over 800 colleges, highest in the state, has not got a pro-VC since Gaurishankar Parasher demitted the post on July 14, 2010 along with then VC SN Pathan.
Recently, after a series of papers leak episodes rocked the Mumbai University, the chancellor's office directed state minster for higher and technical education Rajesh Tope and its VC Rajan Welukar to fill up all vacant posts. Accordingly, Naresh Chandra was appointed as pro-VC and also filled up the posts of registrar and CoE.
But in NU no concrete steps have been initiated despite the paper leak case bringing disrepute. Even SNDT University, Mumbai and Swami Ramanand Teerth University, Nanded have appointed the pro-VCs while Dr Shekhar Rajderkar recently joined Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) as pro-VC.
Senior Senate member and Nagpur University Teachers' Association (NUTA) secretary Anil Dhage slammed the administration stating that their stand of not appointing pro-VC raises suspicion. "NU is already reeling under several vacancies of statutory posts like registrar and CoE. When pro-VC's appointment is in administration's hand, they should immediately go for it. His appointment would share a huge burden of 800 colleges on the university's head."
Terming the VC's argument that pro-VC's appointment will create two power centres as "absurd", he said the possibilities of incidents like paper leak would have been minimized if he was there. "VC should take initiative to appoint his deputy so that he could concentrate on academic and research works," he said.
What the MU Act, 1994 Act says
The Chancellor may, in consultation with the vice-chancellor, appoint a pro-VC for the university which has more than 150 affiliated colleges and recognized institutions. The pro-VC shall be appointed as per the provisions of Section 13, and wherever appointed, s/he shall be responsible for the duties allotted to him specifically by the VC with the approval of the Management Council. He shall preside over the meeting of the authorities of the university in the absence of the VC. The term of pro-VC shall be co-terminus with the term of office of the VC or till he attains the age of 60 years whichever is earlier.