In a shocking incident that has exposed serious administrative failures, 133 students of the Master of Computer Applications (MCA) program at Shri Sai Institute Of Management and Research in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar were prevented from appearing for their crucial semester examination on Thursday. The reason: they never received their mandatory hall tickets, a situation that culminated in police intervention and the filing of a criminal case.
A Week of Assurances and Morning of Despair
According to the affected students, they had been pleading with the college administration for their hall tickets for almost a week. Each time, the authorities assured them that the necessary arrangements were being made. Hopeful yet anxious, a large group of students gathered outside the institute on the morning of the exam, scheduled for 10 AM, expecting to finally collect their tickets.
To their utter dismay, the institute was locked. No teaching or non-teaching staff was present to address their crisis. This absence sparked outrage and panic among the students, who realized they were about to miss a pivotal academic evaluation.
The Root Cause: An Unregistered Course
The core of the problem was revealed when Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU) authorities were contacted. B N Dole, head of the university's exam department, stated clearly that Shri Sai Institute Of Management and Research was not registered with BAMU to run the MCA course. This critical lack of affiliation had a direct domino effect.
"As the course was not registered, there was no question of accepting fees from the college towards examination of students and the issuing of hall tickets is out of question," Dole explained to the media. This revelation meant the students were enrolled in a program that had no official standing with the university conducting the exam.
Students Left in the Lurch: Fees and Admissions
The plight of the students was further compounded by dubious financial practices. Many revealed that they had secured admission through the State CET Cell, a legitimate government process, which added to their belief in the institute's credibility. However, the college failed to provide proper fee receipts.
"We were told that there were issues with the IT system and receipts would be sent on WhatsApp. We never got the receipt," said an affected student from Washim. This lack of documentation left them with little proof of their payments and enrollment.
Legal Repercussions: FIR Filed Against Chairman
Frustrated and feeling cheated, the enraged students marched to the MIDC Cidco police station after the exam commenced without them. They demanded criminal action against the college management. Police commissioner Pravin Pawar confirmed that an FIR was registered based on a student's complaint.
Inspector Atul Yerme, handling the additional charge of the police station, detailed the charges: "We have registered an FIR against the four suspects under BNS sections 316 (2) for criminal breach of trust, 318 (4) for cheating, and section 3 (5) for common intention. The investigation is underway." The chairman of the educational institution is among the four named accused.
Despite repeated attempts, the college authorities remained unavailable for comment throughout the day. The incident has raised severe questions about the oversight of private institutions and the mechanisms to protect students from such academic and financial fraud.
