Four months after it was formed, the three-member committee investigating the delay in announcing the results of the Mumbai University’s first term examinations in 2017-18 has failed to submit its report, resulting in an extension till May 31.
The delay in results due to glitches in the on-screen marking system (OSM) had led to the ouster of the then Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sanjay Deshmukh.
The committee was formed on December 12, 2017, after the State government assured the Legislature to conduct a thorough inquiry. It is led by SVR Srinivas, Principal Secretary (Information & Technology), and comprises Dr. Dhiren Patel, director of VJTI Mumbai, and Dr. Deepak Phatak from IIT-Bombay.
The committee was supposed to file its report within two months. On Saturday, the Higher and Technical Education Department issued a government resolution extending the committee’s term till May 31.
The delay in results had led to protests from students’ organisations and teachers’ bodies, Dr. Deshmukh facing criticism for allegedly implementing the OSM system in a hasty manner. Governor and MU chancellor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao had subsequently removed Dr. Deshmukh. The university has no full-time VC at present, and candidates are being interviewed for the post.
The committee is investigating if MU conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the OSM before implementing it.
It is also tasked with finding out if the university administration, teachers and students were prepared for the OSM, if the tender process to award the contract was as per regulations, and if the university administration, teachers and MeritTrac (the company which was awarded the tender) were technically qualified to solve the possible glitches.
When contacted, SVR Srinivas told The Hindu that the committee needs some more time as the issue requires deep study.
Sitaram Kunte, Principal Secretary for Higher & Technical Education, did not respond to queries.
