KOCHI: The removal of well-known academic and cultural personality V.C. Harris as director of School of Letters, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, has become instrumental for the much-needed discussion on the pitiable state of affairs of universities and institutions of higher learning in the state. The social media platforms such as Facebook are agog with comments by a large section of people including academics critical of the decision of the MG University. The comments in social media are a reflection of the functioning of the universities in the state and people who have genuine concerns about the plight of institutions of higher education will have to put their heads together and initiate a serious plan of action to redeem the situation.
It is true that academics and institutions of higher learning cannot remain immune to the overall developments in society. The happenings in the universities and other campuses in the state are perhaps a reflection of the much talked erosion of ethical values in society. Still, it is high time that somebody took the initiative for a healthy debate on the topic. It is a welcome sign that a number of academics have come in support of Dr. Harris and expressed their disapproval of the decision of the university in an open manner. Dr. Dileep Raj, a philosophy teacher in Government Brennen College, Thalasserry, has openly declared his solidarity with Dr. Harris.
Dr. K.M. Seethi, professor of international relations, MG University, is another notable academic who condemned the university’s decision. ‘Students for Freedom’, an online collective of the MG University, has also opposed the decision. The all-round criticism has forced the university to come out with a meek reply the other day citing that no disciplinary action has been initiated against Dr. Harris and said the removal of him from post of director is part of the rotation system prevailing in such posts. The university also said the action has been initiated as Dr. Harris declined to cooperate with the visit of the NAAC team to the campus.
A debate about action against Dr. Harris should not confine into an individual affair. The series academic and financial irregularities mentioned in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General in 2017 calls for a thorough evaluation of the functioning of the University. The report has indicted the functioning of the university on several counts and has listed at least a dozen incidents of violations of rules and regulations. The 11-points highlighted in the report should come as an eye-opener for anyone having a modicum of concern for the functioning of the universities in the state.
The points the CAG has highlighted are:
* MGU commenced a five-year Integrated Interdisciplinary MS programme and integrated double degree BA (Criminology)-LLB (Honours) which did not have the approval of University Grants Commission (UGC).
* The MGU failed to frame uniform syllabus as directed by UGC. The College Development Council envisaged by UGC was ineffective due to non-appointment of a full time director
* There was a delay ranging from one to nine months in declaring examination and revaluation results. Fifty nine per cent of degree certificates were issued after six months from the date of application
* As many as 197 teachers identified as research guides by MGU did not possess the eligibility criteria as prescribed by UGC
* MGU failed to implement the syndicate decision and diluted contractual terms and failed to obtain UGC/Government of Kerala assistance leading to loss of revenue of '3.98 crore
* The syndicate irregularly created 10 non-plan posts of section officers without the approval of the government
* Irregular payment of House Rent Allowance against GOK directives resulted in undue benefit of '2.20 crore to the staff of MGU
* Payment of inadmissible remuneration of '13.97 crore to regular teachers towards valuation of answer scripts
* Promotions made against the abolished posts in violation of orders of GOK resulted in excess payment of Rs 13.36 lakh
* Failure of MGU to enroll employees into EPF scheme from the date of entry into service resulted in avoidable expenditure of Rs 2.20 crore and potential liability of Rs 3.78 crore towards interest and damages
* There was no internal audit wing in the MGU which resulted in lack of internal control mechanism
The report has also mentioned several courses launched by the varsity without proper regulatory approvals making the students unwitting victims of the decision-making process in the varsity. A glaring example of such callous attitude of the varsity can be cited from the MBA degree course. The CAG report pointed out that “out of 6303 MBA degrees awarded by MGU during 2011-12 to 2015-16, 4,735 MBA degrees (75 per cent) were awarded to the students who had undertaken the course through off-campus centres. MGU awarded same degree certificates to the students who attended off-campus centres and the students who studied the course in University department and affiliated colleges concealing the fact that degrees obtained through off-campus centres were not recognised by AICTE”. The report has listed several such violations that call for a serious introspection on the part of the government and the people at large about functioning of the MG University and other universities in the state.
