Pune: The Senate meeting of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) witnessed sharp criticism of the university's proposed budget for the academic year 2025-26. Instead of focusing on student welfare schemes and academic growth initiatives, the discussions were dominated by concerns over administrative inefficiencies, staffing issues, and delayed audits.
Members expressed discontent over the lack of recruitment for key academic and administrative positions, including deans, registrars, and professors. Delays in academic audits of university departments and affiliated colleges were also highlighted. Additionally, the increasing reliance on contractual and visiting faculty, leading to higher expenses, drew criticism.
Budgetary Disparity for Hostels
A significant point of contention was the university's allocation of funds for hostels. Senate member Prasenjit Fadnavis questioned the rationale behind the excessive budget for international student hostels, which remain largely unoccupied. Meanwhile, local students continue to face a shortage of hostel accommodations and inadequate facilities, with minimal budgetary support.
Similarly, Senate member Sachin Gorde criticized the inadequate provisions for rural students. He noted that only 3% of the university's total budget was earmarked for initiatives benefitting students from rural backgrounds, highlighting the need for a more inclusive approach.
Recruitment and Audit Plans
In response to concerns over unfilled academic and administrative positions, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Suresh Gosavi assured that the recruitment process would commence soon. He stated that the university was awaiting further guidelines from the Governor’s office and would proceed with the hiring accordingly.
On the subject of academic audits, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr. Parag Kalkar confirmed that assessments would resume in April 2025. He explained that the state government had issued fresh directives, and the university would conduct the evaluations in compliance with these guidelines. The last audit was completed in 2022.
Placement Cell Appointments Delayed
Members also voiced frustration over the long-pending appointments in the university’s placement cell. The staff shortage has hampered the efficiency of placement services, affecting students’ career prospects. Dr. Kalkar assured that the recruitment process for the placement cell would be completed within three months.
Corruption Allegations
The session also saw allegations of corruption during discussions on faculty promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). Senate member Sachin Gorde alleged that faculty members were forced to pay bribes at the Higher Education Deputy Director's office to secure promotions.