Aided wing on, college issues receipts for unaided courses

Mumbai: Dombivli’s K V Pendharkar College has allegedly gone ahead and given admissions to first-year degree students in the “unaided” section, even as the state govt has not given a nod to shut down its aided section.
Teachers claimed the college has issued fee receipts with “unaided” mentioned next to the course name to all students, including the ones taking admissions in the first-year degree section.
The matter is pending in court and the state govt had issued a showcause notice to the management seeking explanation for the series of alleged irregularities reported at the college. The college was given eight days to respond to the notice dated June 29, which ended on Saturday. In the notice, the higher education department, in light of the complaints from stakeholders and a Mumbai University committee report, has sought explanation as to why the college should not be taken over by govt.
The MU committee, headed by former district court judge Shashikant Sawle, had recommended the appointment of an administrator to the college as per provisions of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act of 2016. The showcause notice was then issued by the higher education director stating govt would take over the administration of the college, if the college fails to give an explanation in eight days, in order to ensure smooth continuation of academic work and in the larger interest of students. Representatives from the college management remained unavailable for comment.
Speaking on an earlier occasion, a college official had told TOI they are keen on running the college as they are financially independent and they do not need govt funds, adding they plan to become a university too in future. A teacher said the college has not increased the fees this year, but have given receipts with the word “unaided” mentioned against all courses, for instance FYBCom (unaided).
They may not do it this year, but a fee hike is inevitable if they become completely unaided, said a teacher.