Autonomous Colleges in Pune Region Face Action for Unpaid Examination Fees

Pune, 1st November 2023: Several autonomous colleges that transitioned from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) are now in the spotlight for outstanding examination fees amounting to crores of rupees. Despite follow-ups by the university, these institutions have not cleared the dues, leading to the decision by the management council to initiate corrective action.

Numerous esteemed colleges in Pune, Ahmednagar, and Nashik districts opted for autonomy, granting them the authority to conduct exams and release results independently. However, even under autonomy, these colleges are required to maintain students’ data with the university. Degrees issued by the colleges still bear the university’s logo and name, necessitating the payment of fees to the university.

The Maharashtra Public Universities Act 2016 also mandates such payments, and it appears that certain colleges have not fulfilled this financial obligation for up to a decade. While some colleges have adhered to the rules and deposited the necessary fees, a growing number of autonomous colleges have accumulated substantial outstanding fees, now reaching into crores.

In response to this financial discrepancy, the university has dispatched letters to the concerned colleges, instructing them to settle the outstanding fees. The matter was discussed in a meeting of the university’s management council, which subsequently decided to take action against non-compliant colleges.

Ravindra Shingnapurkar, Member of the Management Council at Savitribai Phule Pune University, stated, “While granting autonomy to the colleges, the Act explicitly outlines the registration fee associated with examinations, requiring these institutions to fulfil their financial obligations by paying the prescribed fees to the University. Non-compliance with these dues may lead to the management council deciding to take appropriate action against such colleges, by the established rules.”