The Senate of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) has erupted in protest, demanding the immediate scrapping of a controversial decision that permitted old PhD scholars to submit their long-pending theses. The move, which senators allege blatantly flouts University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and benefits a select few, was the focal point of a heated meeting held on Friday.
Senate Uproar Over Alleged Rule Violation
During the senate session, members launched a fierce attack on the university administration for issuing guidelines that provided a "final opportunity" to PhD students who had failed to submit their theses within the stipulated period. The directive, known as Direction No. 33/2025, contained a clause—15(H)—that granted this blanket concession without specifying any cutoff year. Senate members argued this open-ended relaxation was a clear deviation from established UGC regulations.
Senior senate member Manmohan Bajpai led the charge, highlighting that he had previously raised the issue, but the university failed to withdraw the direction. "This clause can lead to the deterioration of research standards," Bajpai stated. He pointed out that while UGC had granted a specific 6-month extension during COVID-19, the new university direction had no time limit at all, which could be discriminatory against newly registered scholars.
The sentiment was strongly echoed by other members. Senior senator RG Bhoyar took an aggressive stand, declaring the decision harmful not only to the university's integrity but also to future generations of students, and insisted it be revoked without any delay.
Administration Admits Error, Reveals 22 Submissions
In response to the intense questioning, the university administration conceded that the decision was flawed. Vice-Chancellor Dr. Manali Kshirsagar acknowledged that permitting old PhD students to submit theses was indeed incorrect. She emphasized the seriousness of the issue and assured the senate that appropriate action would be taken, balancing the institution's reputation and student interests.
The administration revealed that the academic council had approved the proposal a few months ago, and the formal direction was issued about a month back. During this one-month window, a total of 22 PhD scholars submitted their theses, all of which were more than six years old. This revelation fueled senators' suspicions that the relaxation may have been tailor-made to benefit specific individuals.
Coursework Dilemma for Humanities Scholars
Apart from the thesis controversy, senate members also flagged the problem PhD scholars face in completing mandatory coursework. Scholars need to earn 12 credits, but members pointed out that platforms like SWAYAM and NPTEL largely offer science and technology courses. This creates a significant hurdle for students from humanities and interdisciplinary fields.
The members demanded that the university make coursework options available in both online and offline modes to ensure equal access for all disciplines. The administration has assured that a decision on this matter will be taken soon.
The Nagpur University senate has now put immense pressure on the administration to rectify what they see as a major procedural lapse. With the Vice-Chancellor admitting the error, all eyes are on the next steps the university takes to uphold UGC regulations and maintain academic rigor.
