MC upset with MU over approval to buy aircraft

The management council (MC) of the University of Mumbai has asked university authorities to clarify how the approval for buying of an aircraft has been ascribed to them when the discussion during its meeting on Tuesday was only limited to approving the starting of BSc aviation course and Commercial Pilots Licence course at the Garware Institute at the university’s Kalina campus.

Council members have also said that the approval of the two courses are pending as they have sought replies to certain queries regarding the legality of the course.

According to a source, the MC had discussed the proposal to start the two courses at the Kalina campus under the MoU signed by the university along with the Bombay Flying Club in 2009. “The MoU signed with the BFC was for offering the two courses at the Ratnagiri campus and hence the members said that various aspects needed to be looked into before giving the final go ahead for the starting of the course,” said the MC member.

The MC raised three queries and asked the university to ascertain whether there was a need for the course to be started in Mumbai after conducting a survey. Secondly, the MC asked the university to verify the legal aspect of offering the course at Kalina along with BFC while the MoU was for starting the course at the Ratnagiri campus of the university and to verify whether the Garware Institute had the funds, infrastructure and wherewithal to start the course.

While the MC said that a final decision on approving the courses would be taken by them after receiving responses to these queries, news of the course being approved and an aircraft being purchased has upset them and they have asked the university as to how their instructions were misinterpreted.

Commenting on the issue, Mu registrar Dr M.A. Khan confirmed the MC’s grouse. “The MC had raised three queries and had decided that a decision to offer the course at Garware Institute would be taken only after that during another meeting,” he said.

A former MC member of the university said that it was surprising that information like purchasing of an aircraft was being given to the world even before following due procedure.

“Courses once approved by the management council have to get the approval of the academic council. Similarly, buying equipments for the purpose of the course also requires the approval of the academic council. However, it seems that the university is taking decisions arbitrarily, which is in contempt of the laid down procedures. If such things keep happening, the university would end up being used as a fiefdom of the authorities,” the former member said.