GU to discontinue MSW programme, School of Commerce class timings changed
As per university authorities, among other major decisions taken by the Executive Council, which met for two hours from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Neerja Gupta, were change of timing for School of Commerce classes from afternoon shift to morning shift; filling of 50 vacant seats in postgraduate courses, including Science, Commerce, Arts by contractual teachers till permanent appointments are done; Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) for promotion to be held as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.
GU had sought a legal opinion and based on it, it decided to close the programme. 'The Higher Payment Programme (HPP) for the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree offered at the university's Samaj Vidya Bhavan is not being taught as per the prescribed guidelines. So a decision has been taken to close it, based on legal opinion,' university authorities told this paper.
It was a self-financed programme under the Department of Social Work established in 2013 designed to be self-sufficient on a higher fee than standard programmes. Sources revealed that the University might consider to relaunch the programme, but not as HPP.
Further, it was decided that a special committee will be formed to investigate into various matters, including the appointment of suspended Assistant Prof Vanrajsinh Chavda. Earlier, retired Prof Pradeep Prajapati, a former professor of GU, had submitted a written complaint regarding the appointment of Prof Chavda, following which disciplinary action was taken against him.
GU V-C Gupta stated that the EC has approved lateral entry courses, including Science, Commerce, Arts, as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. In addition, students studying in the second semester of other universities have been allowed to enter the third semester of GU.
For the School of Commerce, classes were being run in the afternoon shift, till 6pm. Students had demanded for a change of timing, for them to be free for other programmes or jobs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
TMC MP Mahua Moitra moves SC against EC's revision of electoral rolls in Bihar
Trinamool Congress leader and Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra has moved the Supreme Court challenging an order of the Election Commission of India for special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. TMC leader Mahua Moitra during the launch of a book in Delhi in May.(PTI) In her plea, Moitra said she seeks setting aside of the order dated June 24 under which Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is being conducted in alleged violation of various provisions of the Constitution. "The present writ petition has been filed in public interest under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking setting aside of order dated 24.06.2025 issued by Election Commission of India under which SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar is being conducted in violation of Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 21, 325, 328 of the Constitution and provisions of Representation of People (RP) Act, 1950 and Registration of Electors (RER) Rules, 1960 which, if not set aside, can lead to large-scale disenfranchisement of eligible voters in the country thereby undermining democracy and free and fair elections," it submitted. Moitra further sought a direction from the apex court to restrain the Election Commission of India from issuing similar orders for SIR of electoral rolls in other states of the country. "It is submitted that it is for the very first time in the country that such an exercise is being conducted by ECI, where electors whose names are already there in electoral rolls and who have already voted multiple times in are being asked to prove their eligibility," the plea filed through advocate Neha Rathi said. The plea said "the impugned SIR order requires the inclusion or retention of a voter's name in the electoral roll upon production of citizenship documents, including proof of citizenship of either or both parents, failing which the voter is at risk of requirement is ultra vires Article 326 and introduces extraneous qualifications not contemplated by the Constitution of the RP Act 1950.' A similar plea has also been filed by NGO Association of Democratic Reforms challenging the poll panel's direction for SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar. The EC on June 24 issued instructions to carry out an SIR in Bihar, apparently to weed out ineligible names and ensure only eligible citizens are included in the electoral roll. Bihar goes to polls later this year. The NGO has also sought setting aside of the order and communication, arguing that it violates Articles 14, 19, 21, 325, and 326 of the Constitution, as well as provisions of the Representation of People's Act, 1950, and Rule 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The NGO's plea filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan said the EC order "can arbitrarily and without due process" disenfranchise lakhs of voters and disrupt free and fair elections. "That the documentation requirements of the directive, lack of due process as well as the unreasonably short timeline for the said Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Roll in Bihar further make this exercise bound to result in removal of names of lakhs of genuine voters from electoral rolls leading to their disenfranchisement," the plea said. The last such revision in Bihar was conducted in 2003. According to the EC, the exercise was necessitated by rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, young citizens becoming eligible to vote, non-reporting of deaths, and inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants. It said with the exercise, it wants to ensure the integrity and preparation of error-free electoral rolls. The SIR is being conducted by booth officers, who are conducting a house-to-house survey for verification. The EC said it will scrupulously adhere to the constitutional and legal provisions as laid down in Article 326 of the Constitution and Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, in carrying out the revision. Several other civil society organisations like PUCL and activists like Yogendra Yadav have approached the top court against the ECI's direction.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Electoral roll revision: EC eases rules for Bihar voters; 'required documents can be submitted later'
NEW DELHI: Days after the opposition dubbed EC's special intensive revision of electoral rolls as "votebandi," the poll body on Sunday eased the rules of the ongoing exercise for Bihar voters. In an advertisement carried in Hindi newspapers, Bihar chief electoral officer has now asked voters to submit forms without the required documents, which can be submitted later. "As soon as you receive the enumeration form from the BLO, fill it immediately and submit it to the BLO along with the required documents and photograph," the advertisement said. "If you do not have the necessary documents, then submit only the filled enumeration form to the BLO," it added. "If you provide the required documents, it will help the Electoral Registration Officer to process your application more easily. If you are unable to submit the required documents, the Electoral Registration Officer may take a decision based on a local inquiry or verification of other supporting documents," the advertisement further read. This comes after the opposition objected to the ongoing intensive revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar just months ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. A delegation of 11 parties met the EC and claimed that this will put democracy in Bihar "under threat". Calling the exercise 'votebandi,' CPM's Dipankar Bhattacharya claimed that the Commission admitted that 20% of Bihar's voters reside outside the state, which effectively means they could lose their right to vote. "This is nothing less than 'votebandi' for Bihar," he said, comparing the exercise to the demonetisation, or 'notebandi', carried out in 2016. "There seems to be a failure on our part to convince the Election Commission that one month is not enough for lakhs of voters to submit identification documents. Democracy in Bihar is under threat. A major people's movement is now necessary," he added. On Saturday, former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi asked the people to "refuse" to show any documents to the officials. According to the poll body, it is part of its crackdown on illegal immigrants from countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The poll panel reminded the constitutional provision that says only Indian citizens can vote. "The Constitution of India is supreme. All citizens, political parties, and the Election Commission of India follow the Constitution," EC said in a statement. The poll panel already has nearly 78,000 booth-level officers (BLOs) and is appointing over 20,000 more for new polling stations, it said. More than one lakh volunteers will be assisting genuine electors, particularly the old, sick, persons with disabilities, poor, and other vulnerable groups during the special intensive revision. Out of the existing 7,89,69,844 electors, 4.96 crore electors, whose names are already in the last intensive revision of the Electoral Roll on January 1, 2003, have to "simply verify so, fill the Enumeration Form and submit it." The enumeration form should be filled between 25 June and 26 July, after which the draft voter list will be published on 1 August 2025; the period for filing claims and objections will be from 1 August to 1 September, and the final voter list will be published on 30 September.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
EC eases rules on Bihar voter list revision; can give papers later, says CEO
Amid concerns about the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, which requires voters to produce documents that few own or know how to procure, the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has asked people to submit filled-out electoral forms without the requisite documents if they do not possess them. Booth-level officers (BLOs) have been asked to upload all the filled-out, signed forms, while the documents can be submitted later. In an advertisement carried in newspapers in Hindi, the office of the Bihar CEO says: 'Fill and submit your enumeration forms with documents and your photograph to BLOs as early as possible. If you do not have requisite documents, send the filled-out, signed forms to the BLOs.' While the Election Commission (EC) has not issued any fresh order, the Bihar CEO's move is being taken as an attempt to allay panic among people, given that the deadline for the final form submission is just two weeks away (July 26). In instructions to District Magistrates (DMs), the office of the CEO says, 'All DMs, collect forms without documents; also ensure maximum forms are collected so that we can ensure maximum number of voters on draft publication …. Documents can be collected afterwards …. and uploaded through BLO dashboard (being developed ) …. Documents can be collected later and uploaded afterwards…. Jo bhi forms baante hai bas enumeration forms filled upload kariye abhi with signature (for now, just upload the filled-out enumeration forms with signature) …. BLOs already know 90% of their voters, Apart from those who have passed away and permanent migration, upload all forms.' A BLO in a village in Banka district confirmed that these instructions had been issued. 'Yes, we are told to accept both kinds of forms, with or without documents. There is panic not just among people but among us. I have over 1,300 enumeration forms to submit with a few sacks of documents that need to be scanned. It does not look possible to complete it by July 26. We are praying for an extension of deadline.' He said the exercise was similar to the house-to-house survey conducted three years ago, in which they had been asked to avoid duplicating names and ensure that those who had passed away were not included in the electoral rolls.
