The deadline, set by the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court, to appoint full-time principals across the state, got over on May 31. The HC order had mentioned that universities should stop admission process in colleges that fail to appoint principals. However, some institutes had moved Supreme Court against the HC order and obtained a stay on this order.

As the confusion prevailed over whether the SC order was applicable only to those who moved the SC or to all defaulting colleges, the UoP took a proactive step and again asked the defaulting colleges to at least start the appointment process. “The appointment of fulltime principals is a major issue as the principal is in-charge of academic as well as administrative affairs of the college. Though the UoP will not be taking action against the defaulters as of now, it will continue to pursue the defaulting colleges,” said acting vice- chancellor Arun Adsool.

Till last month, there were 93 colleges in the jurisdiction of the UoP, that had not even started the procedure of appointing full-time principals. “The latest situation, however, shows that 44 of these 93 have started the procedure. They have asked the university to send selection committee to their colleges to appoint the principals,” said Adsool. “As per the latest record, 219 of 527 colleges have full-time principals and 259 have started the selection procedure,” he added.

According to a senior officer in the academic section of the UoP, of these 49 colleges, at least half are facing crunch of students. “That can be the reason that they don’t take cognisance of repeated reminders. The others may be ignorant about the consequences,” he said.

Meanwhile, another 41 colleges in the state have moved the SC against the HC order.

Already, the SC has received petitions from around 60 educational institutes from Mumbai, Nanded, Hingoli and Latur. The petitioners argue that the time allotted to fill the vacant posts of principals was short.

Rules also come in the way
The colleges are unable to find proper candidates for the principal’s post. The state government resolution on the pension rules is another factor that is keeping away eligible candidates. It says the teacher, appointed to any senior post through selection process, would lose the previous pension benefits.

That means, only those teachers who move to principal’s post by promotion can get pension.

Due to this rule, many eligible candidates in the age group of 45-50 are shying away from the selection process.

Though an UGC guideline says principals can continue on job till the age of 65, the UoP has not amended its statutes along these lines. So, the colleges affiliated to it cannot do so.