Mumbai: Over 70 per cent of the faculty of University of Mumbai Law Academy (UMLA) is teaching on a temporary basis, with the director of the academy being on ‘in-charge’ basis. The faculty members reveal that they are still being paid on the basis of Fifth Pay Commission while they are supposed to be paid as per the Sixth Pay Commission.
According to sources close to the UMLA, only three professors are eligible for the post as they were appointed after open interview while close to eight professors are on clock hour basis (CHB) or are guest lecturers or visiting faculty. “It would be better if something is being done about the permanent post as even after doing NET and PhD, several professors are kept on a temporary basis, which means the salary given is very less. This is the case for both CHB and permanent teachers as we are being paid as per the Fifth Pay Commission. Due to this behaviour, there is zero motivation,” said a faculty member on the condition of anonymity.
Talking about the issues the students are facing, a teacher disclosed that there are several subjects in the BBA, LLB (Hons), which can’t be taught inside a classroom with a blackboard. “Subjects like Statistical Analysis and other management subjects require digital classrooms or digital devices to ensure proper exposure. However, it barely has two to three classrooms for the students which are partly shared with the LLM students,” the teacher said. As per the Bar Council of India (BCI), there should be separate classrooms for the students of different courses but when The Asian Age visited the UMLA building, the classroom banner said LLM and BBA, LLB.
“We do not have any decent facilities starting from canteen to library or research,” a student said. Several students groups have sent a letter to the vice-chancellor and registrar of MU and the governor of Maharashtra on the matter.
