Senate members object to non-member at meet

The MU had invited Deepak Mukadam, a chartered accountant who was associated with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, to be a part of the senate meeting.

University of Mumbai (MU) was unable to get its annual budget for 2019-20 approved in its senate meeting on Wednesday, after members of the senate objected to the presence of a non-member at the meeting.

University of Mumbai (MU) was unable to get its annual budget for 2019-20 approved in its senate meeting on Wednesday, after members of the senate objected to the presence of a non-member at the meeting.

The MU had invited Deepak Mukadam, a chartered accountant who was associated with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, to be a part of the senate meeting.

However, senate members belonging to Yuva Sena and Bombay Union of College and Teachers Union (BUCTU) argued that Mukadam should not be a part of the meeting or present the budget, as he is neither a senate member nor a university official.

Mukadam was part of the committee that drafted the proposed budget. He has also been nominated as a member of the university management council by the governor, who is also the chancellor of the university.

“Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, requires that the university finance and accounts officer present the annual budget,” said Gulabrao Raje, a senate member from BUCTU.

However, vice-chancellor Suhas Pednekar said, “The rules offer no clarification on whether a non-member can be a part of the senate meeting.”

“Mukadam has studied the university system and has spent a long time to prepare the budget. Hence, he will present the budget,” Pednekar said.

The budget is likely to be presented on Thursday.