Mumbai University tells colleges to provide supplements, but some students miss out
After HC stayed MU’s order, some colleges could not provide supplements as they failed to receive MU’s circular on time
htmetro@hindustantimes.com
Mumbai: Following an interim order by the Bombay high court (HC), the University of Mumbai (MU) on Saturday issued a circular directing the colleges to provide supplementary answer sheets to the students who need them. However, some colleges did not provide supplements as they failed to receive the circular in time for the papers.
On Saturday, the court had stayed a circular of the university denying students supplements after they fill the 40-page answer sheet. By way of interim relief, the division bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice BP Colabawalla bench had directed MU to provide extra sheets as and when demanded by students.
However, the varsity did not issue directions to its affiliated colleges until afternoon, as it was waiting for a copy of the judgement. As a result, students at some colleges appearing for morning session papers, held between 11am and 2pm, could not avail of the facility.
“I haven’t received any directions from the court or the university. Hence, I am abiding by the earlier circular (of prohibiting supplements)," said Narayan Rajadhyaksha, principal, New Law College, Matunga.
However, another city law college, which received the varsity circular when the papers almost got over, decided to provide supplements to its students. However, the students were asked to sign an undertaking stating that the college won't be responsible if their answer sheets aren’t considered valid by the university. “The students started demanding supplementary answer sheets since 1 pm. Although there were no directions from the university, we didn't want to be contemptuous to the court. This is the best we could do," said the principal, who did not wish to be named.
As MU does not issue separate supplementary answer sheets, the students were provided with another 40-page answer sheet.
The university, which has switched over to the online evaluation of answer sheets, had decided to do away with supplements after several errors crept in scanning answer sheets that had additional supplements attached and decided to provide only one 40-page answer sheet. The decision was challenged in the high court by Manasi Bhushan, a student of Government Law College.