The autonomous Ernakulam Maharaja’s College will seek the advice of the Higher Education Department on the ₹10 lakh fine slapped on it by the Syndicate of the Mahatma Gandhi University for violation of evaluation norms.
The only autonomous college in the government sector will have no other option, but to request the intervention of the department in finding a solution to the vexed issue.
The Syndicate had also fined ₹10 lakh each on St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, and S.B. College, Changanassery, for not subscribing to the varsity’s evaluation rules for various postgraduate examinations.
The Maharaja’s College authorities had informed the varsity in a hearing held on September 28 that the decision to implement indirect grading instead of direct grading for the examinations held for the postgraduate batches (2015-16 admission) was taken on the basis of the guidelines issued by the varsity to the chairmen of various boards of studies.
They were told to change the evaluation pattern of answer sheets to indirect grading instead of direct grading on the basis of the reforms made by the varsity for its undergraduate courses. The boards of studies for the postgraduate subjects,the academic council and the governing council had also ratified the indirect grading system.
PG admission
The authorities informed the Syndicate that the regulations for the postgraduate admission 2015 were submitted before the varsity for approval. They had also requested the varsity to approve the grading pattern implemented for batches that got admitted for various postgraduate courses in 2015-16 considering its status as a government college. But the Syndicate decided to slap ₹10 lakh fine on the college while turning down its stance.
The college management recalled that the regulations for the 2015-16 postgraduate batches were submitted before the varsity in tune with the recommendations included in the Autonomy Act. The college went ahead and implemented the regulations as per a provision in the Act that it stand approved automatically, if the varsity did not take a decision within 30 working days after receiving it.
The college authorities said they were yet to receive an official intimation from the varsity on the ₹10 lakh fine. Varsity officials said they will forward a letter to the Principal. A final decision will be taken on the basis of the stance taken by the Higher Education Department.
About 250 students (2015-17 batch), who completed various postgraduate courses from the Maharaja’s College, will not get the degree certificates till the government takes a decision on the issue. The varsity has put on hold the release of the certificates till the management remits the fine.
