Maharashtra act 011 of 2024 : The Maharashtra Marathi Bhasha Vidyapeeth Act, 2023

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

CHAPTER II

UNIVERSITY

CHAPTER III

OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY

CHAPTER IV

AUTHORITIES OF UNIVERSITY

CHAPTER V

STATUTES, ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS

CHAPTER VI

GRIEVANCES OF TEACHERS, EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS

CHAPTER VII

ADMISSIONS, EXAMINATIONS, EVALUATION AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO STUDENTS

CHAPTER VIII

COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES

CHAPTER IX

ENROLMENT, DEGREES AND CONVOCATIONS

CHAPTER X

UNIVERSITY FUNDS, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

CHAPTER XI

MISCELLANEOUS

CHAPTER XII

TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section 1.Short title and commencement.

(1) This Act may be called the Maharashtra Marathi Bhasha Vidyapeeth Act, 2023.

(2) It shall come into force on such date, as the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Section 2.Definitions.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(i) "Academic Council" means the Academic Council of the university;

(ii) "adjunct professor", "adjunct associate professor" or "adjunct assistant professor" means a person from industry, trade, agriculture, commerce, social, cultural, academic or any other allied field who is so designated during the period of collaboration or association with the university;

(iii) "authorities" means the authorities of the university as specified by or under this Act;

(iv) "Board of Management" means the Board of Management of the university;

(v) "centre" means a centre established, managed and maintained by the university as prescribed by the Statutes, and includes centre for academic services;

(vi) "Chancellor" or "Vice-Chancellor" means, respectively, the Chancellor or the Vice-Chancellor of the university;

(vii) "choice based credit system" means the curricular system that offers multiple inter-disciplinary choices for students to select from the courses (core, elective or minor or soft skill or skill enhancement courses, etc.) to accumulate credits as prescribed by the Statutes;

(viii) "collaboration" means collaborative academic activity of the university with other universities, academic institutions including local, regional, national or international institutions, industries, research institutions and organizations;

(ix) "Dean" means the Dean of the School of the university;

(x) "De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis)" means tribes declared as such by the State Government, from time to time;

(xi) "department" means a department established by the university for teaching a particular subject or a group of subjects in the university;

(xii) "Director" means a head of an institution including a centre or a school of the university as designated by the Board of Management;

(xiii) "Economically Weaker Section" means any Economically Weaker Section as notified by the State Government, from time to time;

(xiv) "fees" means tuition fees, other fees and charges, including developmental charges, to be collected by the university and its sub-centres;

(xv) "head of the university department" or "head of the university centre" means a head of the university Department or head of the university Centre, respectively;

(xvi) "higher education" means the pursuit of knowledge beyond learning at the stage of higher secondary school education or equivalent level thereof;

(xvii) "hostel" means a place of residence for the students of the university, provided, established or maintained by the university;

(xviii) "inter-disciplinary studies" means the combined academic studies and research in different disciplines as prescribed by the Statutes;

(xix) "Knowledge Resource Centre" means a library established by the university on the campus or sub-centres of the university to hold in print, electronic and audio-video format, monographs, reference volumes, texts and review books, all types of journals and any other material in any format useful for education, research, extension services or for similar purposes;

(xx) "multi-disciplinary studies" means the combined academic and research programs in different streams of a particular discipline as prescribed by the Statutes;

(xxi) "Nomadic Tribes" means tribes wandering from place to place in search of their livelihood, as declared by the State Government, from time to time;

(xxii) "non-vacational academic staff" means such staff as the State Government may classify to be non-vacational academic staff and includes all such staff which is complimentary to academic staff but, shall not include the staff engaged purely in discharging administrative functions;

(xxiii) "Other Backward Classes" means any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens as declared by the State Government and includes Other Backward Classes declared by the Government of India in relation to the State of Maharashtra, from time to time;

(xxiv) "prescribed" means prescribed by the Statutes or Ordinances or Regulations, as the case may be, made by or under this Act;

(xxv) "Registrar" means the Registrar of the university;

(xxvi) "regional centre" or "sub-centre" means a comprehensive inherent independent unit of the university for decentralization of academic, administrative, research and extension activities, with the objective of improving efficiency and effectiveness;

(xxvii) "regulatory authorities" means the regulatory authority established by the Government of India, from time to time, for laying down norms and conditions for ensuring academic standards of higher education, such as University Grants Commission, National Council of Teacher Education, Distance Education Council, etc.;

(xxviii) "Scheduled Castes" means such castes, races or tribes or parts of, or groups within, such castes, races or tribes as are deemed to be Scheduled Castes, in relation to the State of Maharashtra under article 341 of the Constitution of India;

(xxix) "Scheduled Tribes" means such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within, such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Maharashtra under article 342 of the Constitution of India, residing in any part of the State of Maharashtra;

(xxx) "School" means a school of studies maintained and managed by the university;

(xxxi) "Special Backward Category" means socially and educationally backward classes of citizens declared as a Special Backward Category by the State Government;

(xxxii) "State" means the State of Maharashtra;

(xxxiii) "State Government" or "Government" means the Government of Maharashtra;

(xxxiv) "Statutes", "Ordinances" and "Regulations" means, respectively the Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations of the university, made by or under this Act;

(xxxv) "student" means an individual who is admitted and registered for any academic programme of the university;

(xxxvi) "teacher" means full-time approved professor, associate professor, assistant professor, reader, lecturer, librarian, principal, Director of an institution, Director of Knowledge Resource Centre, Director of Centre of Lifelong Learning and Extension, deputy or assistant librarian in the university, Director or instructor of physical education in any school, centre, department or sub-centre or regional centre of the university;

(xxxvii) "university" means the Marathi Bhasha Vidyapeeth, Riddhapur, Amravati established under section 3 of this Act;

(xxxviii) "University Grants Commission" means the University Grants Commission established under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956).

Section 3.Establishment of university.

(1) There shall be established a non-affiliating unitary university, by the name of the "Marathi Bhasha Vidyapeeth, Riddhapur, Amravati".

(2) The university shall be a body corporate, by the name specified in sub-section (1) and shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and shall sue and be sued by the said name.

(3) In all suits and other legal proceedings by or against the university, the pleadings shall be signed and verified by the Registrar or any other person authorized in this behalf, and all process in suits and proceedings shall be issued to and served on the Registrar.

(4) The headquarter of the university shall be at Riddhapur, Amravati, Maharashtra.

(5) The jurisdiction of the university shall extend to the whole of the State of Maharashtra.

(6) The university shall be competent to acquire and hold property, both movable and immovable, to transfer by way of lease, sell, mortgage, leave and license, gift, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or otherwise, or dispose of any movable or immovable property, which may vest in or be acquired by it for the purposes of the university and to contract and do all other things necessary for the purposes of this Act:

Provided that, no such transfer by way of lease, sell, mortgage, leave and license, gift, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or otherwise, or disposal of such property shall be made without the valuation made thereof by the approved valuer appointed by the university and without the prior permission of the State Government.

Section 4.Objects of university.

The objects of the university, in general, shall be to disseminate, create and preserve knowledge and understanding by teaching, research and development, skill development, training and education, extension and service in Marathi language and literature in general, and in particular, the objects relating thereto shall be,-

(1) to promote education, research and training in Marathi language, Marathi literature and culture, for the advancement of knowledge and for betterment of the society;

(2) to make provision for research and for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge, and generally to cultivate and promote Marathi language and literature in various multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary areas;

(3) to function as a high-level research centre in Marathi language, Marathi literature and culture;

(4) to study various dialects of Marathi language across the State;

(5) to facilitate and promote advanced study and research in art, culture, music, stage-plays, painting, sculpture, architecture, archaeology, language, literature, grammar, linguistics, history, religion, philosophy, medicine, engineering, sciences and handicrafts and the like that have development on the basis of the Marathi language and literature;

(6) to provide for research on ancient, medieval and modern Marathi literature in every field keeping in view the likely future scientific developments;

(7) to develop Marathi as a language of modern knowledge and medium of instruction;

(8) to serve as a centre for fostering co-operation and interaction between the academic and research community on the one hand and industry and the Government on the other;

(9) to establish regional centers or sub-centers within the State or beyond the State boundaries as per the directions, rules, regulations and notifications issued in this behalf by the State Government, University Grants Commission and other regulatory authorities, from time to time;

(10) to promote freedom, secularism, equality, social justice as enshrined in the Constitution of India, and to be catalyst in patriotic socio-economic transformation by promoting basic attitudes and values of essence to national development;

(11) to promote equitable distribution of teaching, learning, training and other support service facilities of higher education;

(12) to promote national integration, fraternity and preserve cultural heritage and inculcate respect towards different religions and diverse cultures of India through the study of different religions, literature, history, science, art, civilizations and cultures;

(13) to promote better interaction and co-ordination among different universities and other universities in the State, in the region, in the nation and at global level by all such means generally to improve the governance of the university and facility to provides for higher education;

(14) to provide flexible and modular learning pathways thereby enabling multi-entry and exit options;

(15) to undertake such other activities as may be required to fulfill and in furtherance of the above objectives and the National Education Policy of the Central Government or directives, regulations issued by the regulatory authority.

Section 5.Powers and duties of university.

The university shall have the following powers and duties, namely :-

(1) to provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in such branches or subjects or disciplines and courses of study including a choice based credit system and any other system that may emerge in future, as the university may, from time to time, determine;

(2) to make provision for research and for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge, and generally to cultivate and promote Marathi language, Marathi literature and culture in various branches of learning and their multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary areas;

(3) to determine the procedures regarding development of Marathi language embodying in itself all the educational fields existing in the developing world and evolving suitable approach therefor;

(4) to establish, organize, maintain and manage university schools, departments, centres, regional centres or sub-centres, laboratories, knowledge resource centres, learning resource centres, libraries, etc. for teaching, learning, training, research and development or extension;

(5) to establish an International Centre for preservation and promotion of Marathi language, Marathi literature and culture;

(6) to establish, maintain and manage hostels, health centres, auditoria and gymnasiums and sports facilities;

(7) to translate books of other languages into Marathi language according to the needs in consonance with the objectives of the university and also to translate the books of Marathi language into other languages;

(8) to compile and publish Marathi words, expressions, colloquial terms, mutual borrowings, words peculiar to industries and other occupations which are used by Marathi speaking people in the State of Maharashtra and also in other countries where Marathi speaking people resides;

(9) to organize exchange programmes with other institutions of repute in India and abroad with a view to keep abreast with the latest developments in relevant areas of teaching and research;

(10) to grant joint degrees or dual degrees, and transfer of credits by allowing multi-campus teaching and research with other institutes or universities in India or abroad as per the directions, rules, regulations and notifications issued in this behalf by the State Government, University Grants Commission and other regulatory authorities, from time to time, in niche areas in tune with the National Education Policy, 2020;

(11) to identify and establish linkages including Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for long term relationships with national and international research organizations for widening the scope of research opportunities and funding options available to the teachers and students of the university;

(12) to create posts of university teachers, non-vacational academic staff, non-teaching skilled, administrative, ministerial staff and other posts required by the university, from its funds and from the funds received from other funding agencies (excluding State Government), prescribe their qualifications, experience and pay-scales, and make appointments thereto;

(13) to make appointments to the posts of university teachers, non-vacational academic staff, non-teaching skilled, administrative, ministerial staff and other posts created by the university and also on the vacant posts sanctioned by the State Government, as per the qualifications and experience specified by the State Government, the University Grants Commission and other regulatory authorities, from time to time;

(14) to appoint or recognize persons working in any other university, industry, research institutes or organization as adjunct professors, adjunct associate professors, adjunct assistant professors, professors of practice, emeritus professors, chair professors, distinguished professors, visiting professors of the university for specified period;

(15) to nominate the eligible, performing and contributing individuals from within the university on various officers positions as prescribed by the Statutes;

(16) to prescribe the courses of instruction and studies, in conventional, contemporary and futuristic modes of delivery, in choice based credit system for the various examinations leading to specific degrees, diplomas or certificates in a stand-alone format or joint format with other State or national or global universities;

(17) to decide the criteria for eligibility of admissions to various programmes of studies in the university and to supervise, control and regulate admission of students for various courses of study in the academic units of the university such as multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary schools, university departments, centres, including those on sub-centres or regional centres;

(18) to institute degrees, post-graduate diplomas, post-diplomas, and post-higher secondary diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions on the basis of examinations or by other to hold examinations or evaluations and confer degrees, post-graduate diplomas, post diplomas, and award post-higher secondary diplomas and certificates and other academic distinctions on persons who,-

(a) unless exempted therefrom in the manner prescribed, have pursued approved courses of study in the university, school, department or centre and have passed the examinations and earned the required credits or marks or grades prescribed by the university; or

(b) have pursued approved courses of study in the university, school or centre and have passed the examinations and earned the required credits or marks or grades prescribed by the university; or

(19) to confer and award such degrees, diplomas and certificates to, and provide for such lectures, instructions and training for blended and distance education, open, online, blended and continuing education courses;

(20) to confer honorary degrees or other academic distinctions as prescribed by the Statutes;

(21) to build up financial self-sufficiency by undertaking academic teaching, training and allied programmes, research, development, consultancy and testing activities for public and private industries, Governmental organizations at local, regional, national and global level and resource generative services in a cost-effective manner;

(22) to monitor and evaluate the academic performance of university schools, departments, centres and for periodical accreditations;

(23) to hold and to manage trusts and endowments and to institute and award fellowship, travelling fellowship, scholarship, studentship, medals and prizes for teachers and students of the university;

(24) to fix, demand and receive or recover such fees and other charges, as may be regulated by the Ordinances, from time to time;

(25) to supervise, control and regulate the conduct and discipline of the students of the university, schools, departments, centres and hostels;

(26) to provide for mobility of students from formal to non-formal stream and vice-versa, and also among the other universities in the State, outside the State and Country;

(27) to provide facilities for revision or in-service courses for teachers of the university;

(28) to provide for the training and education in the domain of quality assurance, intensive workshops or learning exercises on enhancing quality and also mechanism for setting up of internal quality assurance for quality improvement of teachers and non-teaching employees;

(29) to provide for periodical assessment of the performance of teachers and non-teaching employees in the university in accordance with the norms prescribed by the University Grants Commission or other regulatory authorities and the State Government, as the case may be;

(30) to regulate and provide for attendance of the teachers and non-teaching employees on the premises of the university during teaching hours and beyond teaching hours, as prescribed and to prohibit teachers from taking or conducting private tuitions or private coaching classes;

(31) to prescribe and enforce students' charter;

(32) to establish, maintain and manage, whenever necessary,-

(a) Knowledge Resource Centre;

(b) university schools, departments, centres or cells;

(d) training and placement cell and career guidance bureau; and

(e) such other activities as may be necessary and possible to fulfill the objects of the university;

(33) to make provision for participation of students in,-

(a) National Service Scheme (NSS);

(b) National Cadet Corps (NCC);

(d) national sports organization;

(e) physical and military training;

(f) extra-mural teaching and research;

(g) programmes related to lifelong learning and extension;

(h) any other programmes, services or activities directed towards cultural, economic and social betterment as may be necessary and possible, to fulfill the objects of the university;

(34) to provide for special training or coaching for competitive examinations, for recruitment to the public services, public sector undertakings and other competitive employment opportunities;

(35) to co-operate and collaborate with any other university, institution, industry, authority or organization, for research and advisory services and for such purposes to enter into appropriate arrangement with other universities, institutions, industry, authorities, or organizations to conduct certain courses as the situation may demand, to offer research solutions and consultancy;

(36) to transfer or receive transfers of any movable property on behalf of the university;

(37) to manage, regulate and administer the revenue, finance, accounts, investments, properties, business and all other administrative affairs of the university and for that purpose to appoint such agent or agents as it may deem fit;

(38) to appoint in order to execute an instrument or transact any business of the university, any person as attorney of the university with such powers as it may deem fit;

(39) to explore the possibilities of augmenting the resources of the university by exploring or innovating activities such as research and development, consultancy and testing, training programmes and providing services for different clients from universities, research institutions, profit and non-profit organizations, industry, trade, professional associations, industry associations, other organizations in India or overseas or any other Non-Governmental Organizations;

(40) to undertake academic collaboration programmes, research and advisory services with universities and institutions abroad, with prior approval of the Board of Management:

Provided that, these shall not be in contravention of the State Government policies in this regard;

(41) to receive funds for collaboration programmes from foreign agencies, within the rules and regulations of the Central Government and the State Government in that regard;

(42) to create development corpuses out of surplus that the university may generate through its teaching, learning, training, research and development, consultancy and testing, and any other academic and extension and outreach activities and to invest it in professional manner and use the interest generated through it for the growth and development of academic, human resources, research and development, academic and physical infrastructure development and any other infrastructure;

(43) to lay down such instructions or directions for university teachers as, in the opinion of the university, may be necessary in academic matters;

(44) to undertake development programmes in higher education, research, consultancy based projects and training programmes for outside agencies, by charging fees, so as to generate revenue and resources;

(45) to take appropriate measures in order to increase the gross enrolment ratio;

(46) to promote by itself, or in co-operation with other universities or organizations, the study of Indian and Foreign languages in general and Asian languages in particular;

(47) to evolve an operational scheme for ensuring accountability of teachers, non-vacational academic and non-teaching staff of the university;

(48) to create knowledge and disseminate it and foster high quality research which is contemporary, globally competitive and locally as well as regionally and nationally relevant;

(49) to have a learner-centric approach and perform the role of being knowledge creator;

(50) to develop products, services and technologies for industry and society and generate revenue and other resources for the university;

(51) to create a comprehensive digital university framework for both, e-learning and e-administrative services to exploit the power of 'learning by collaboration' and 'participation' with use of information and communication technology;

(52) to set-up research parks, technology incubators and other engagement entities to translate university research to commercial domain and co-ordinated projects involving multiple faculty groups from several disciplines that address some important issues before the State, Country and society at large;

(53) to identify skills to which students need to be exposed to, by taking into account the local needs, training facilities available, emerging needs and new employment opportunities;

(54) to provide an environment for the all-round development of youth by exposing them to the rich cultural heritage of the Country and creating opportunities for development of skills in technology;

(55) to offer mechanism and facility of credit banking or transfer system to create options of multi-entry and exit and opportunities for movement across universities or domains or sectors;

(56) to ensure introduction of choice based credit system with transferable and receivable credit points from four streams, namely, the academic stream, the technology stream, the professional and social stream and the personality and cultural development stream;

(57) to facilitate mobility of teachers for collaborating institutions such as industries, research and development laboratories, professional associations, industry associations and Non-Governmental Organizations, engaged in societal development, to enable translation of knowledge to viable real-life applications and in turn enrich the university programmes;

(58) to comply with and carry out any directives issued by the State Government, from time to time, with reference to above powers, duties and responsibilities of the university;

(59) to conduct academic and administrative audit of the university schools, departments and centres at regular intervals;

(60) to establish regional centres or sub-centres, within State, outside States and foreign countries with the respective permission of the Board of Management, the State Government and the Central Government;

(61) to appoint on contract or otherwise visiting professors, emeritus professors, consultants and such other persons who may contribute to the advancement of the objects of the university;

(62) to do all such other acts and things as may be necessary for, or incidental or conducive to, the attainment of all or any of its objects.

Section 6.University open to all.

(1) No citizen of India shall be excluded from any office of the university or from membership of any of its authorities, bodies or committees, or from appointment to any post, or from admission to any degree, diploma, certificate or other academic distinction or course of study on the ground only of sex, race, creed, class, caste, place of birth, religious belief or profession or political or other opinion.

(2) The university shall adopt Government policy and orders issued, from time to time, in regard to the reservation for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections for appointment to different posts of teachers and non-teaching employees and for the purpose of admission of students in the university.

(3) The university shall adopt the general policy of the State Government in regard to the welfare of various categories of weaker sections of the society, minorities, women and persons with disabilities, as directed by the State Government, from time to time.

Section 7.Control of State Government on university.

(1) Without prior permission of the State Government, the university shall not,-

(a) create new posts of teachers, officers or other employees, which will impose additional financial liability on the State Government ex-chequer;

(b) revise the pay, allowances, post-retirement benefits and other benefits of its teachers, officers and other employees, who are appointed and established on the State Government sanctioned posts;

(c) grant any special pay, allowance or other extra remuneration of any description whatsoever, including ex-gratia payment or other benefits having financial implications, to any of its teachers, officers or other employees of the university appointed on the State Government sanctioned posts from the State Government funds;

(d) divert any earmarked funds received from the State Government for any purpose other than that for which it was received;

(e) incur expenditure on any development work from the funds received from the State Government or University Grants Commission or any person or body for the purposes other than the purposes for which the funds are received;

(f) transfer by sale or lease of immovable property.

(2) The university shall be competent to incur expenditure, in consonance with the policies and directives of the State Government issued from time to time, from the funds received from,-

(a) various funding agencies without any share or contribution from the State Government;

(b) contributions received from individuals, industries, institutions, organizations or any person whosoever, to further the objectives of the university;

(c) contributions or fees for academic or other services offered by the university for aided and self-supporting academic programmes;

(d) charges received from sponsored research and consultancy and testing;

(e) development fund or any other fund established by the university; for the purposes of,-

(i) creation of posts in various cadres;

(ii) granting pay, allowances and other benefits to the posts created through its own funds provided those posts are not held by such persons, who are holding the posts for which government contribution is received;

(iii) starting any academic programmes on self-supporting basis;

(iv) granting remunerations or incentives to its employees for performing any task assigned to them other than their regular duties and responsibilities;

(v) incurring expenditure on any development work and on welfare activities of its students and employees:

Provided that, there is no financial liability, direct or indirect, immediate or in future on the State Government.

(3) The State Government may, in accordance with the provisions contained in this Act, for the purpose of securing and maintaining uniform standards in all universities in the State, by notification in the Official Gazette, prescribe a Standard Code providing for the classification, manner and mode of selection, appointment, induction and advance training, field exposure, deputation and reservation of post in favour of members of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), duties, workload, pay, allowances, post-retirement benefits, other benefits, conduct and disciplinary matters and other conditions of service of the officers, teachers and other employees of the university and the teachers where such Code is prescribed, the provisions made in the Code shall prevail, and the provisions made in the Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations made under this Act, for matters included in the Code shall, to the extent to which they are inconsistent with the provisions of the Code, be invalid.

(4) (a) qualifications and experience for the purpose of appointment of teachers in the university shall be in accordance with the norms laid down by the University Grants Commission or any other regulatory authorities, as the case may be.

(b) qualifications and experience for the purpose of appointment of non-teaching employees in the university shall be such, as may be prescribed.

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, if the circumstances so require and the State Government considers it necessary to do so, it may appoint, on deputation, a suitable person possessing the requisite qualifications to perform the duties of the Registrar, Finance and Accounts Officer and Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation, for a period of not more than one year at a time and not more than three years in the aggregate.

(6) The State Government through any officer not below the rank of Joint Director of Higher Education or Joint Director of Technical Education, shall have right to cause inquiry or inspection of the university with respect to any complaint received by the Government.

(7) In case of failure of the university to exercise powers or perform duties specified in section 5, or where the university has not exercised such powers or performed such duties adequately, or where there has been a failure to comply with any order issued by the State Government, or under any other circumstances as the State Government may deem fit, the State Government may make enquiry and may issue a directive to the university for proper exercise of such powers or performance of such duties or comply with the order within such period as specified by the State Government; and it shall be the duty of the university to comply with such directions. In case the university fails to comply with the directives, the State Government shall call upon the university to give reasons in writing, within such period as specified by the State Government, as to why the directives were not complied with. If the university fails to give the reasons within the period specified by the State Government or the State Government is not satisfied with the explanation, it may refer the matter to the Chancellor for taking necessary action under sub-section (3) of section 8.

(8) The State Government shall carry out, test audit or full audit of the accounts of the university regularly at such intervals, as it may deem fit or at any time.

Section 8.Chancellor and his powers.

(1) The Governor of Maharashtra shall be the Chancellor of the university and the Chancellor, by virtue of his office, shall be the Head of the university.

(2) The Chancellor, when present, shall preside over the convocation of the university and may issue directions to the Vice-Chancellor to convene the meeting of any authority of the university for specific purposes, whenever necessary, and the Vice-Chancellor shall submit the minutes of such meeting to the Chancellor for his perusal and necessary action.

(3) The Chancellor,-

(a) shall, on receiving a reference from the State Government under the provisions of sub-section (7) of section 7 in such matter; or

(b) may, in any matter suo motu or otherwise,

call for a report or an explanation or such information and record relating to such matter or any matter or affairs of the university, within such period as may be specified by the Chancellor and shall, after considering such report or explanation, or information or record, issue such orders including imposition of penalty for its non-compliance thereupon, as may be deemed fit in the interest of the university or students or larger interest of the public, and his orders shall be final and binding and shall be complied with by the university forthwith.

(4) The Chancellor may, after taking report in writing from the Vice-Chancellor, suspend or modify any resolution, order or proceeding of any authority, body, committee or officer which in his opinion, is not in conformity with this Act, Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations made thereunder, or is not in the interest of the university and the university, authority, body, committee and officer, shall comply with the same:

Provided that, before making any such order, the Chancellor shall call upon the university, authority, body, committee or, as the case may be, officer to show cause why such an order shall not be made, and if any cause is shown, within the time specified by the Chancellor, he shall consider the same and wherever he deems it necessary, after consulting the State Government, decide the action to be taken in the matter, and his decision thereon shall be final.

(5) Where, in the opinion of the Chancellor, the conduct of any nominated or appointed member is detrimental to the smooth functioning of the university or any authority or body or committee, he may, after giving such member an opportunity to offer his explanation in writing and after considering such explanation, if any, and satisfying himself that it is necessary so to do, disqualify such member or suspend him for such period, as he may deem fit.

(6) The Chancellor shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred upon or vested in him by or under this Act.

Section 9.Officers of university.

The following shall be the other officers of the university, namely :-

(1) Vice-Chancellor;

(2) Registrar;

(3) Dean of School;

(4) Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation;

(5) Director, Board of Students' Development;

(6) Director, Knowledge Resource Centre;

(7) Finance and Accounts Officer;

(8) such other officers in the service of the university, as may be prescribed by the Statutes.

Section 10.Vice-Chancellor and his appointment.

(1) There shall be a Vice-Chancellor who shall be the principal academic and executive officer of the university and ex-officio Chairperson of the Academic Council, Board of Examinations and Evaluation, Board of Research and Innovation, Board of Planning and Development, Board of Students Development and Finance and Accounts Committee. In absence of the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor shall preside at any convocation for conferring degrees.

(2) Save as otherwise provided, pay and allowances, terms and conditions of service of the Vice-Chancellor shall be such, as may be determined by the State Government, from time to time.

(3) The Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Chancellor in the manner stated hereunder :-

(a) there shall be a search-cum-selection committee consisting of the following members to recommend suitable names to the Chancellor for appointment of Vice-Chancellor, namely :-

(i) a member nominated by the Chancellor, who shall be a person of eminence in the sphere of higher education and shall be either an eminent scholar of national repute or a recipient of Padma Award in the field of education;

(ii) the Secretary of Higher and Technical Education Department or any officer not below the rank of Secretary to Government nominated by the State Government;

(iii) the Director or Head of an institute or organization of national repute working for preservation and promotion of Marathi language and literature, nominated by the Board of Management and the Academic Council, jointly;

(iv) a member nominated by the Chairman, University Grants Commission.

(b) The member nominated by the Chancellor under sub-clause (i) of clause (a) shall be the Chairman of the committee.

(d) No meeting of the committee shall be held unless all the members of the committee are present.

(e) The committee shall recommend a panel of not less than five suitable persons for the consideration of the Chancellor for being appointed as the Vice-Chancellor. The names of the persons so recommended shall be in alphabetical order without any preference being indicated. The committee shall prepare a report accompanied by a detailed write-up on suitability of each person included in the panel and submit the same to the Chancellor.

(f) A person recommended by the committee for appointment as Vice-Chancellor shall,-

(i) be a person possessing highest level of competence, integrity, morals and institutional commitment;

(ii) be a distinguished academician, in the field of Marathi language and literature with a minimum ten years' of experience as a professor in university or ten years of experience in a reputed research or academic administrative organization in the field of Marathi language and literature, with proof of having demonstrated academic leadership;

(iii) be able to provide leadership by his own example;

(iv) be able to provide vision; and have ability to translate the same into reality in the interest of students and society;

(v) possess such additional educational qualifications and experience, as may be specified by the State Government, by an order published in the Official Gazette, in consultation with the Chancellor:

Provided that, the educational qualifications and experience shall be in consonance with the norms prescribed by the University Grants Commission or any other regulatory authority, as the case may be;

(g) The eligibility conditions and the process for recommendation of names for appointment as Vice-Chancellor shall be given wide publicity to ensure the recommendation of most suitable candidates.

(4) The Chancellor may appoint one of the person, included in the panel recommended by the committee to be the Vice-Chancellor:

Provided that, if a person selected by the Chancellor does not take over the charge of the post of the Vice-Chancellor, the Chancellor may select another suitable person from the remaining persons from the panel or he may call for a fresh panel either from the same committee or after constitution of a new committee for the purpose, from such new committee:

Provided further that, if the Chancellor does not approve any of the persons so recommended, he may call for a fresh panel either from the same committee or after constitution of a new committee for the purpose, from such new committee.

(5) The process of preparing the panel of the suitable persons for being appointed as the Vice-Chancellor, shall begin at least six months before the probable date of occurrence of the vacancy of the Vice-Chancellor, and the process of appointment of the Vice-Chancellor shall be completed at least one month before the probable date of occurrence of the vacancy of the Vice-Chancellor.

(6) The Registrar shall initiate the process with the approval of the Chairperson of the Board of Management in consultation with the Chancellor's office.

(7) The person appointed as the Vice-Chancellor shall, subject to the terms and conditions of contract of service, hold office for a period of five years from the date on which he takes charge of his office or till he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier and he shall not be eligible for re-appointment.

(8) The person appointed as the Vice-Chancellor shall hold a lien, if any, on the substantive post held by him prior to the appointment.

(9) In any of the following circumstances, the exigency whereof shall solely be judged by the Chancellor, namely :-

(i) where the committee appointed under clause (a) of sub-section (3) is unable to recommend any name within the time limit specified by the Chancellor;

(ii) where the vacancy occurs in the office of the Vice-Chancellor because of death, resignation or otherwise, and it cannot be conveniently and expeditiously filled in, in accordance with the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4);

(iii) where the vacancy in the office of the Vice-Chancellor occurs temporarily because of leave, illness or other causes; or

(iv) where there is any other emergency, the Chancellor may appoint any suitable person not below the rank of Professor, to act as the Vice-Chancellor for a term not exceeding six months, in the aggregate, as may be specified in his order:

Provided that, the person so appointed shall cease to hold such office on the date on which the person appointed as the Vice-Chancellor in accordance with the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4), assumes office or the Vice-Chancellor resumes office.

(10) The Vice-Chancellor shall be a full-time salaried officer of the university and shall receive pay and allowances, and other facilities, as may be determined by the State Government. In addition, he shall be entitled to free furnished residence, a motor car including its maintenance and repairs and fuel required therefor, with the service of a chauffeur, free of charge.

(11) If a person receiving an honorarium from the Consolidated Fund of the State, or a university teacher is appointed as Vice-Chancellor, his terms and conditions of service shall not be altered to his disadvantage during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor.

(12) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing sub-sections, the person referred to in sub-section (8) shall stand retired from his original post in accordance with the terms and conditions of service of that post.

(13) The Vice-Chancellor may, by writing under his signature addressed to the Chancellor, after giving one month's notice resign from his office and shall cease to hold his office on the acceptance of his resignation by the Chancellor or from the date of expiry of the said notice period, whichever is earlier.

(14) The Vice-Chancellor may be removed from his office if the Chancellor is satisfied that the incumbent,-

(a) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or

(b) has been convicted by a court for any offence involving moral turpitude; or

(d) has been physically unfit and incapable of discharging functions due to protracted illness or physical disability; or

(e) has willfully omitted or refused to carry out the provisions of this Act or has committed breach of any of the terms and conditions of the service or any other conditions, prescribed by the State Government under sub-section (2), or has abused the powers vested in him or if the continuance of the Vice-Chancellor in the office is detrimental to the interests of the university; or

(f) is a member of, or is otherwise associated with, any political party, any organization which takes part in politics, or is taking part in, or subscribing in aid of, any political movement or activity.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-clause, whether any party is a political party, or whether any organization takes part in politics or whether any movement or activity falls within the scope of this sub-clause, the decision of the Chancellor thereon shall be final:

Provided that, the Vice-Chancellor shall be given a reasonable opportunity to show cause by the Chancellor before taking recourse for his removal under sub-clauses (d), (e) and (f).

Section 11.Powers and duties of Vice-Chancellor.

(1) The Vice-Chancellor shall be the principal academic and executive officer of the university responsible for the development of academic programmes of the university. He shall oversee and monitor the administration of the academic programmes and general administration of the university to ensure efficiency and good order of the university.

(2) He shall be entitled to be present, with the right to speak, at any meeting of any other authority or body or committee of the university, but shall not be entitled to vote thereat, unless he is the Chairperson or member of that authority or body.

(3) The Vice-Chancellor shall have the power to convene the meeting of any of the authorities, bodies or committees, as and when he considers it necessary to do so.

(4) The Vice-Chancellor shall ensure that directions issued by the Chancellor and the State Government are strictly complied with or, as the case may be, implemented.

(5) It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chancellor to ensure that the directives of the Board of Management, if any, and the provisions of this Act, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations are strictly observed and that the decisions of the authorities, bodies and committees which are not inconsistent with this Act, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations are properly implemented.

(6) The Vice-Chancellor may defer implementation of a decision taken or a resolution passed by any authority, body or committee of the university if, he is of the opinion that the same is not consistent with the directives of the Board of Management or with the provisions of the Act, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations or that such decision or resolution is not in the interest of the university and at the earliest opportunity refer it back to the authority, body or committee concerned for reconsideration in its next meeting with reasons to be recorded in writing. If differences persist, he shall within a week, giving reasons submit it to the Chancellor for decision and inform about having done so to the members of the authority, body or committee concerned. After receipt of the decision of the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor shall take action as directed by the Chancellor and inform the authority, body or committee concerned, accordingly.

(7) If there are reasonable grounds for the Vice-Chancellor to believe that there is an emergency which requires immediate action to be taken, or if any action is required to be taken in the interest of the university, he shall take such action, as he thinks necessary, and shall at the earliest opportunity, report in writing the grounds for his belief that there was an emergency, and the action taken by him, to such authority or body as shall, in the ordinary course, have dealt with the matter. In the event of a difference arising between the Vice-Chancellor and the authority or body whether there was in fact an emergency, or on the action taken, where such action does not affect any person in the service of the university, or on both, the matter shall be referred to the Chancellor whose decision thereon shall be final:

Provided that, where any such action taken by the Vice-Chancellor affects any person in the service of the university, such person shall be entitled to prefer, within thirty days from the date on which he receives notice of such action, an appeal to the Board of Management.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section, action taken by the Vice-Chancellor shall not include disciplinary action taken against any employee of the university.

(8) Where any matter is required to be regulated by the Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations, but no Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations are made in that behalf or where there is an exigency to amend Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations, the Vice-Chancellor may, for the time being, regulate the matter by issuing such directions as he thinks necessary, and shall, at the earliest opportunity thereafter, place them before the appropriate authorities or bodies concerned for approval. He shall, at the same time, place before such authority or body for consideration the draft of the Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations, as the case may be, required to be made in that behalf:

Provided that, drafts of such Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations as the case may be, shall be approved by the appropriate authorities of the university, within six months of issuing of such direction, failing which such direction shall automatically lapse.

(9) The Vice-Chancellor shall be the appointing and disciplinary authority for the university teachers.

(10) The Vice-Chancellor shall be the appointing and disciplinary authority for officers of the university of the rank of Assistant Registrar and of the rank equivalent thereto and above excluding the post of Finance and Accounts Officer.

(11) As the Chairperson of the authorities or bodies or committees, the Vice-Chancellor shall be empowered to suspend member from the meeting of the authority, body or committee for persisting to obstruct or stall the proceedings or for indulging in behaviour unbecoming of a member, and shall report the matter accordingly, to the Chancellor.

(12) The Vice-Chancellor shall have right to cause inspection to be made by such person or persons or body of persons as he may direct, of the university, its buildings, laboratories, libraries, museums, workshops and equipment and halls or hostel maintained or recognized by the university, and of the examinations, teaching and other work conducted by or on behalf of the university, and to cause an inquiry to be made in a like manner regarding any matter connected with the administration or finance of the university.

(13) The Vice-Chancellor shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, as may be conferred upon him by or under this Act.

Section 12.Registrar and his powers and duties.

(1) The Registrar shall be a full time officer of the university and shall be appointed by the Board of Management.

(2) The qualifications and experience for the purpose of selection of the Registrar for appointment under sub-section (1) shall be such as laid down by the University Grants Commission and approved by the State Government, from time to time. The Registrar shall be appointed by the Vice-Chancellor on the recommendation of a selection committee constituted for the purpose, under this Act.

(3) The Registrar shall work directly under the superintendence, direction and control of the Vice-Chancellor.

(4) Appointment of the Registrar shall be for a term of five years or till he attains the age of superannuation whichever is earlier and he shall not be eligible for re-appointment.

(5) When the office of the Registrar falls vacant or the Registrar is, by reason of illness or absence or any other cause, unable to perform the duties of his office for a period not exceeding three months, the Vice-Chancellor shall appoint a suitable person to officiate temporarily as the Registrar until the new Registrar assumes duty or the Registrar resumes duty, as the case may be.

(6) The Registrar shall,-

(a) act as a Member-Secretary of the Board of Management, Academic Council and such other authorities, bodies and committees, as prescribed by or under this Act;

(b) be the appointing and the disciplinary authority of the employees of the university other than the teachers, non-vacational academic staff and officers below the rank of Assistant Registrar and other officers holding posts equivalent thereto. An appeal by a person aggrieved by the decision of the Registrar may be preferred within thirty days from the date of communication of such decision, to the Vice-Chancellor;

(c) be the custodian of the records, the common seal and such other property of the university as the Board of Management may, commit to his charge;

(d) prepare and update the handbook of the Statutes and Regulations approved by the authorities, bodies or committees, from time to time, and make them available to all members of the authorities and officers of the university;

(e) receive complaints and suggestions in regard to the improvement of administration and consider them for appropriate action;

(f) render necessary assistance for inspection of the university, its buildings, class rooms, laboratories, libraries, Knowledge Resource Centre, museums, workshops and equipment which is made by such person or persons or body of persons, as directed by the Vice-Chancellor;

(g) organize training and orientation of non-teaching employees in the university;

(h) have the power to enter into agreements, sign documents and authenticate records on behalf of the university, subject to the decision of the authorities of the university;

(i) place before the Board of Management a report of the development activities of the university every six months;

(j) have the power to seek information in regard to any matter of the university, from the Deans, Finance and Accounts Officer and any other officer of the university for submission to the State Government and other external agencies;

(k) exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, as prescribed by or under this Act or assigned to him, by the Vice-Chancellor, from time to time.

Section 13.Dean and his powers and duties.

(1) There shall be a Dean for each school, who shall be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor.

(2) The person to be nominated as a Dean shall possess qualification and experience required for the post of Professor.

(3) The Dean of school shall hold office for a term of five years or till he attains the age of superannuation whichever is earlier.

(4) The Dean of School of Studies shall be the Head of the School of Studies and shall be responsible for the conduct and standard of teaching and research in the School of Studies. He shall work directly under the superintendence, direction and control of the Vice-Chancellor.

(5) The Dean shall,-

(a) be responsible for academic planning and academic audit of the programmes and implementation of academic policies approved by the Academic Council in respect of academic development, maintenance of quality of education including standards of teaching and research and training of teachers within the School;

(b) be responsible for development and application of quality benchmarks or parameters for various academic and administrative activities of higher education;

(d) arrange for feedback responses from the students, teachers, non-teaching staff, parents and other stakeholders on quality-related institutional processes;

(e) ensure appropriate actions, as are needed for maintenance of quality of teaching spelt out by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell;

(f) ensure that the teachers appraisal by students is carried out and the reports thereof are sent to the university authorities concerned;

(g) be responsible for dissemination of information on the various quality parameters of higher education, as may be defined by various national level bodies dealing with assessment and accreditation of quality in educational institutions;

(h) organize inter-institutional and intra-institutional workshops, seminars on quality related themes and promotion of quality circles;

(i) co-ordinate quality-related activities, including adoption and dissemination of good practices, development and maintenance of institutional database, through management information system for the purposes of maintaining or enhancing the institutional quality;

(j) be responsible for development of quality culture in higher education;

(k) prepare Annual Quality Assurance Report of programmes within his faculty, based on the quality parameters or assessment criteria, developed by the relevant quality assurance bodies, in the prescribed format;

(l) be responsible for bi-annual development of quality parameters and ranking of integral units of higher education based on the Annual Quality Assurance Report;

(m) interact with State Quality Assurance Cell in the pre-accreditation and post-accreditation quality assessment, sustenance and enhancement endeavours;

(n) recommend to the Board of Management proposals for the institution of fellowship, travelling fellowship, scholarship, studentship, medals and prizes and making Regulations for their award;

(o) be responsible for ensuring academic development of the School of Studies under his purview and proper implementation of the decisions of the Board of Management, Academic Council and Board of Examinations and Evaluation in respect of the School concerned;

(p) be responsible for creation of a repository of questions with model answers which shall be continuously updated and expanded;

(q) enquire into any malpractices committed in any academic programmes in the School of Studies by a university department or centre, on being directed by the Academic Council and submit a report of the findings to the Academic Council;

(r) render necessary assistance for redressal of grievances of the students in the School;

(s) prepare proposals for award of fellowship, scholarship and other distinctions in the School of Studies for submission to the Academic Council;

(t) prepare reports as required by the various authorities or bodies of the university, the State Government, the Central Government, the Central Educational Commissions or Councils, Commission and any such other body;

(u) exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as prescribed by or under this Act or assigned to him by the Vice-Chancellor, from time to time.

Section 14.Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation and his powers and duties.

(1) The Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall be full-time salaried officer and shall work directly under the directions and control of the Vice-Chancellor. He shall discharge his functions under the superintendence, direction and control of the Board of Examinations and Evaluation, and shall be concerned with the implementation of the policies and directives given by the Board of Examinations and Evaluation.

(2) The Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall be appointed by the Vice-Chancellor from amongst faculty member of the university on the recommendation of a selection committee constituted for the purpose, as prescribed in the Statues.

(3) The term of Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall be five years or till he attains the age of superannuation, whichever is earlier:

Provided that, in case if vacancy occurs because of death, resignation or otherwise, the Vice-Chancellor shall appoint officiating Director till the new Director is appointed.

(4) The Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall,-

(a) be the principal officer-in-charge of the conduct of the university examinations, tests and evaluation, and declaration of their results;

(b) be the Member-Secretary of the Board of Examinations and Evaluation;

(c) be responsible for making all arrangements necessary for holding examinations, tests and evaluation, and for timely declaration of results;

(d) evolve and implement in consultation with the Examinations and Evaluation Cell, processes for proper and smooth conduct of examinations and evaluation;

(e) prepare and announce in advance the programme of examinations, after seeking approval of the Board of Examinations and Evaluation;

(f) postpone or cancel examinations, in part or in whole, in the event of malpractices or if the circumstances so warrant, and take disciplinary action or initiate any civil or criminal proceedings against any person or a group of persons alleged to have committed malpractices, with approval of the Vice-Chancellor;

(g) take disciplinary action wherever necessary against the candidates, paper setters, examiners, moderators, or any other persons connected with examinations and evaluation, found guilty of malpractices in relation to the examinations and evaluation;

(h) strive to declare the results of every examination and evaluation conducted by the university within fifteen days from the last date of the examination for that particular course and shall in any case declare the results as provided in section 55 and in case of delay, prepare detailed report outlining the reasons;

(i) take all steps for implementation of all academic and administrative decisions taken by the Board of Examinations and Evaluation;

(j) implement decisions taken by the various university authorities, connected with the examination and evaluation process;

(k) implement all policy and operative decisions with reference to the choice based credit system, at the under-graduate, post-graduate levels and in other teaching programmes;

(l) organize workshops for teachers in the subjects concerned, in order to acquaint them with new trends in the assessment processes, such as cognitive and summative assessment, creation and use of repository of questions, use of technology in paper setting and conduct of examinations, tests and evaluation;

(m) ensure innovative and effective use of information and communication technology in the entire process of the conduct of examinations and evaluation;

(n) arrange for proper assessment of performance of candidates at the examinations and process the results;

(o) ensure that answer books for all examinations are assessed through a mechanism and system, as prescribed in the Ordinances;

(p) ensure that every teacher and non-teaching employee in the university, renders necessary assistance and service in respect of examinations of the university and in evaluation process;

(q) carry out all other duties and functions assigned to him by the Board of Examinations and Evaluation;

(r) undertake any other task assigned to him by the university authorities to carry out the objectives of the Board of Examinations and Evaluations, and to ensure that the objects of the university are accomplished;

(s) exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, as may be prescribed by or under this Act or assigned to him by the Vice-Chancellor, from time to time.

Section 15.Director, Board of Students' Development and his powers and duties.

(1) The Director of Board of Students' Development shall work directly under the superintendence, directions and control of the Vice-Chancellor.

(2) The Director, Board of Students' Development shall be a full-time salaried officer. He shall be appointed by the Vice-Chancellor from amongst the teachers having minimum teaching experience of ten years and desirable exposure in the field of extra-curricular and extension activities on the recommendation of a selection committee constituted for the purpose, as may be prescribed in the Statues.

(3) The term of Director, Board of Students' Development shall be five years or till he attains the age of superannuation, whichever is earlier.

(4) The Director Board of Students' Development shall,-

(a) work towards promotion of cultural, recreational and welfare activities of students of university;

(b) conduct leadership training programmes for students;

(d) organize anti-ragging committees and squads and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent ragging in the university;

(e) address grievances and ensure general welfare of the students;

(f) help in building-up the all-round personality of students and to groom them to be future leaders and confident adults;

(g) organize cultural and recreational activities jointly with regional, national and international bodies;

(h) promote the interest of the youth and develop their skills for appreciation of the fine and performing arts, pure arts and literary skills;

(i) organize the university, State, National and International level competitions, skills development workshops and interactive programmes in various fields for the students;

(j) train the students for the State, National and International level competitions in various cultural activities;

(k) to prepare the report of the activities of the Board of Students' Development to be submitted before the Board of Management;

(l) undertake any other task assigned to him by the university authorities to carry out objectives of the Board of Students' Development;

(m) work towards promotion, co-ordination and conduct of different activities under the National Service Scheme (NSS);

(n) organize the university, State, National and International level workshops, seminars, camps and competitions for National Service Scheme volunteers;

(o) train the students for State, National and International competitions relating to National Service Scheme activities;

(p) undertake any other task assigned to him by the State National Service Scheme co-ordinator to carry out the objectives of National Service Scheme;

(q) train students for regional, National and International competitions in various sports;

(r) exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, as may be prescribed by or under this Act or assigned to him by the Vice-Chancellor, from time to time.

Section 16.Director, Knowledge Resource Centre and his powers and duties.

(1) The Director of Knowledge Resource Centre shall be a full-time salaried officer of the university and shall be in-charge of the Knowledge Resource Centre in the university. He shall work directly under the superintendence, direction and control of the Vice-Chancellor.

(2) The qualifications, experience and terms and conditions of service of the Director, Knowledge Resource Centre shall be as recommended by the University Grants Commission and adopted by the State Government.

(3) The appointment of the Director of Knowledge Resource Centre shall be made by the Vice-Chancellor on the recommendation of the selection committee prescribed by the University Grants Commission.

(4) The Director of Knowledge Resource Centre shall,-

(a) be a Member-Secretary of the Knowledge Resource Centre Committee and shall ensure proper implementation of the decisions taken by the Knowledge Resource Centre Committee;

(b) be the custodian of all books, periodicals, manuscripts, journals in print, audio and digital format, and equipment in the Knowledge Resource Centre;

(c) evolve and implement such processes and procedures to ensure that the books, periodicals, manuscripts, journals and equipment in the Knowledge Resource Centre are not lost or damaged, and no irregularities take place in the Knowledge Resource Centre;

(d) cause periodical verification of stock, prepare appropriate reports that includes losses, and place it before the Knowledge Resource Centre Committee;

(e) be responsible for the development, modernization, up-keeping and management of the University Knowledge Resource Centre;

(f) render assistance and guidance to the concerned officer at Knowledge Resource Centre of the university;

(g) conduct training programmes and workshops to update the skills and knowledge of librarian's working in other universities in the State;

(h) create awareness among the students of various departments of the university regarding the availability of resources, information, search techniques and databases through the information literacy programme;

(i) undertake any other task assigned to him by the university authorities to ensure that the objectives of the Knowledge Resource Centre are accomplished;

(j) exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, as may be prescribed by or under this Act or assigned to him by the Vice-Chancellor, from time to time.

Section 17.Finance and Accounts Officer and his powers and duties.

(1) The Finance and Accounts Officer shall be the principal finance, accounts and audit officer of the university. He shall be a full-time salaried officer and shall work directly under the superintendence, direction and control of the Vice-Chancellor.

(2) The Finance and Accounts Officer shall be appointed by the Vice-Chancellor on the recommendation of the Selection Committee constituted for the purpose under this Act, who shall be a Chartered Accountant or a Cost Accountant, with professional experience of not less than five years or by deputation from the Maharashtra Finance and Accounts Services not below the rank of Deputy Director.

(3) The appointment of the Finance and Accounts Officer shall be for a term of five years or till he attains age of superannuation, whichever is earlier.

(4) The Finance and Accounts Officer shall,-

(a) exercise general supervision over the funds of the university and advise the Vice-Chancellor as regards the finances of the university;

(b) hold and manage the funds, property and investments, including trust and endowed property, for furthering the objects of the university with the approval of the Vice-Chancellor;

(c) ensure that the limits fixed by the university for recurring and non-recurring expenditure for a year are not exceeded, and that all allocations are expended for the purposes for which they are granted or allotted;

(d) keep watch on the state of the cash and bank balances and investments;

(e) ensure effective revenue management by keeping watch on the process and progress of collection of revenue and advise the Vice-Chancellor on the methods to be employed in this regard;

(f) perform the duties under clauses (a) to (e) as per the Maharashtra Public Universities Account Code;

(g) get the accounts of the university audited, regularly;

(h) ensure that the registers of buildings, land, equipment, machinery and other assets are maintained up-to-date and that the physical verification and reconciliation of these assets and other consumable material in all offices, workshops and stores of the university are conducted regularly;

(i) propose to the Vice-Chancellor that explanation may be called for unauthorized expenditure or other financial irregularities from any academic member or non-vacation academic staff or an officer of the university of the rank of the Assistant Registrar or equivalent and above;

(j) propose to the Registrar that explanation may be called from any non-academic member of the university, other than the teacher, non-vacational academic staff and an officer of the university below the rank of Assistant Registrar or equivalent, for unauthorized expenditure or irregularities in any particular case, and recommend disciplinary action against the persons in default;

(k) call for, from any office, centre, laboratory or department of the university, any information and returns that he thinks necessary for the proper discharge of his financial responsibilities;

(l) maintain the minutes of the meetings of the Finance and Accounts Committee;

(m) be responsible for preparation and maintenance of accounts either by following double entry accounting system, on accrual basis, presenting the annual financial estimates (budget), statement of accounts and audit reports, to the Finance and Accounts Committee and to the Board of Management;

(n) prepare financial reports as required by the various authorities or bodies of the university, the State Government, the Central Government, University Grants Commission and All India Council for Technical Education and any such body providing funds to the university;

(o) exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, as may be prescribed by or under this Act or assigned to him by the Vice-Chancellor, from time to time.

Section 18.Officers, members of authorities, committees or bodies and employees of the university to be public servants.

All salaried officers, members of the authorities, committees or bodies, teachers of the university and other employees of the university, shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

Section 19.Lien of other officers appointed on tenure post and their retirement.

The person appointed on the tenure post shall hold a lien, if any, on the substantive post held by him prior to the appointment and such person shall stand retired from his original post in accordance with the terms and conditions of service of that post.

Explanation.- For the purpose of this section, "tenure post" shall means the post which an individual may not hold for more than a limited period as may be specified by or under this Act.

Section 20.Authorities of university.

The following shall be the authorities of the university, namely :-

(1) Board of Management;

(2) Academic Council;

(3) Board of Planning and Development;

(4) Board of Studies;

(5) Board of Examinations and Evaluation;

(6) Board of Research and Innovation;

(7) Board of Students' Development;

(8) such other bodies of the university, as may be designated by the Statutes, to be the authorities of the university.

Section 21.Board of Management.

(1) The Board of Management shall be the principal policy making and executive authority of the university and shall be responsible for administering the affairs of the university and carrying out such duties, which are not specifically assigned to any other authority.

(2) There shall be not less than four meetings of the Board of Management in a year.

(3) The procedure for conduct of business to be followed at a meeting including the quorum at the meeting and such other matters in relation to meetings as may be necessary, shall be such, as may be prescribed by the Statutes.

(4) The Board of Management shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor, Chairperson;

(b) two eminent persons from the field of education, out of whom one shall be a person having an outstanding contribution in the field of Marathi language and literature, to be nominated by the Chancellor;

(d) the Secretary, Higher and Technical Education or his nominee not below the rank of Deputy Secretary of Higher Education;

(e) the Director of Higher Education or his nominee not below the rank of Joint Director, Higher Education;

(f) the Registrar, Member-Secretary.

Section 22.Powers and duties of Board of Management.

The Board of Management shall have the following powers and duties, namely :-

(1) to review and deliberate on short and long term reforms in academic, research and development activities, finances, management and governance that are taking place at the national and global level with a view to allow them to imbibe in the functioning of the university;

(2) to study and decide upon the operative mechanism for the reforms in all the domains of the university;

(3) to make such provisions, as may enable the university to undertake specialized studies and courses, and where necessary or desirable, organize and make provision for common laboratories, libraries, museums and equipments for teaching and research;

(4) to establish schools, departments, centers, cells for research and specialized studies, on the recommendation of the Academic Council;

(5) to give permission to apply for formation of companies under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) to promote research and innovation by teachers and students;

(6) to make, amend or repeal Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations;

(7) to control and arrange for administration of assets and properties of the university;

(8) to discuss and approve with modifications, if any, the annual financial estimates or budget, that is to say the fund which may be received from the State Government, university funds and other funding agencies separately, as received from the Finance and Accounts Committee;

(9) to consider proposals to enter into, amend, carry out and cancel contracts, Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) or Agreements on behalf of the university;

(10) to determine the form of common seal for the university and provide for its use;

(11) to accept, on behalf of the university the transfer of any trusts, bequests, donations and transfer of any movable, immovable and intellectual property to the university;

(12) to create immovable assets in the form of land, building and other infrastructure out of reserve funds, for its campus, centres and sub-centres;

(13) to borrow, lend or invest funds on behalf of the university as may be recommended by the Finance and Accounts Committee;

(14) to lay down policy for administering funds at the disposal of the university for specific purposes;

(15) to provide buildings, premises, furniture, equipments and other resources needed for the conduct of the work of the university;

(16) to approve the conferment of honorary degrees and academic distinctions, as recommended by the Academic Council;

(17) to institute and confer such degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions as recommended by the Academic Council and arrange for convocation for conferment of the same, as may be provided by the Ordinances;

(18) to institute fellowship, travelling fellowship, scholarship, studentship, exhibitions, awards, medals and prizes and prescribe Regulations for their award;

(19) to make regulations for collaborations with other universities, institutions and organizations for mutually beneficial academic programs recommended by the Academic Council;

(20) to create posts of university teachers and non-vacational academic staff from the funds of the university and from the funds received from other funding agencies (excluding the State Government), on the recommendation of the Academic Council, as and when required, and prescribe their qualifications, experience and pay-scales and to approve the selection and appointments made by the university through the selection process, as may be prescribed by the Statutes;

(21) to create posts of officers, non-teaching skilled, administrative, ministerial staff and other posts from the funds of the university and from the funds received from other funding agencies (excluding State Government), as and when required, and prescribe their qualifications, experience and pay-scales and to approve the selection and appointments made by the university through the selection process, as may be prescribed by the Statutes;

(22) to prescribe honoraria, remunerations, fees and travelling and other allowances for paper-setters and other examination staff, visiting faculty, and fees or charges for any other services rendered to the university;

(23) to receive and consider report of the development activities of the university, received from the Registrar every six months;

(24) to assess and approve proposals for academic programmes received from the Academic Council;

(25) to consider and approve the annual report, annual accounts and audit report in respect of the State Government funds, university funds and funds received from other agencies, separately;

(26) to delegate, any of its powers, except the power to make, amend or repeal Statutes and Ordinances, to the Vice-Chancellor or such officer or authority of the university or a committee appointed by it, as it thinks fit;

(27) to define the functions, duties, powers and responsibilities of non-teaching employees in the university, in respect of the posts created from the funds of the university and from the funds received from other funding agencies;

(28) to approve the various fees recommended by the Fee Fixation Committee;

(29) to accept donations, gifts and other forms of financial support from alumni, philanthropists, industries and other stakeholders and prescribe the procedure to be followed by the university for accepting such donations, gifts, etc.;

(30) to develop and adopt students' charter;

(31) to appoint statutory auditor for annual audits of the university;

(32) to conduct biannual external peer review of each department or centre by experts appointed by the Board of Management. The Board shall also review the results of the ranking in national and international approved agencies and suggest corrective action, if any.

Section 23.Academic Council.

(1) The Academic Council shall be the principal academic authority of the university and shall be responsible for regulating and maintaining the standards of teaching, research and evaluation in the university. It shall also be responsible for laying down the academic policies in regard to maintenance and improvement of standards of teaching, research, extension, collaboration programmes in academic matters and evaluation of work load of the teachers.

(2) The Academic Council shall meet not less than four times in a year.

(3) The Academic Council shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor, Chairperson;

(b) all Deans of Schools;

(d) all heads of the university departments and Directors of the university Centres;

(e) six teachers of which two Professors, two Associate Professors and two Assistant Professors who are not the members of the Board of Studies, to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor:

Provided that, out of six teachers to be nominated, one shall be woman and one shall be a person belonging Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis) or Nomadic Tribes or Other Backward Classes, by rotation;

(f) not less than three eminent experts having outstanding contribution in promotion of Marathi language, Marathi literature and culture, to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(g) Director of Higher Education or his nominee, not below the rank of the Joint Director, Higher Education;

(h) Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation;

(i) Director, Board of Research and Innovation;

(j) Registrar, Member-Secretary.

Section 24.Powers and duties of Academic Council.

(1) The Academic Council shall have the following powers and duties, namely :-

(a) to ensure that the university becomes a vibrant hub for promotion of research and development, interactions and linkages with industries, cultivation of intellectual property rights and entrepreneurship and incubation of knowledge linked industries;

(b) to consider and approve with modifications, if any, the matters referred to it by the School;

(c) to ensure that there are choice based credit systems for all certificates, diplomas, degrees, post-graduate programmes and other academic distinctions;

(d) to ensure that the spirit of research and entrepreneurship imbibe in to all schools, departments and centres of the university;

(e) to recommend to the Board of Management the fees, other fees and charges as recommended by the Dean of School through the Fee Fixation Committee;

(f) to recommend to the Board of Management the institution of degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions;

(g) to propose draft of Ordinances relating to the academic matter to the Board of Management;

(h) to make, amend or repeal Ordinances and Regulations relating to academic matters;

(i) to prescribe qualifications and norms for appointment of paper setters, examiners, moderators and others, concerned with the conduct of examinations and evaluation;

(j) to consider and make recommendations to the Board of Management for creation of posts of university teachers and non-vacational academic staff, required by the university from the funds of the university and from the funds received from other funding agencies (excluding the State Government) and prescribe their qualifications, experience and pay-scales;

(k) to recommend to the Board of Management the comprehensive perspective plan as prepared by the Academic Council;

(l) to approve new courses, inter-disciplinary courses and short-term training programmes referred to it;

(m) to approve the course syllabi, paper-setters, examiners and moderators and evaluation schemes of various courses recommended by the School concerned;

(n) to approve major and (multiple) minor degree programmes;

(o) to advise the university on all academic matters and submit to the Board of Management feasibility reports on academic programmes;

(p) to create policy, procedure and practice for choice based credit system for all academic programmes;

(q) to create policy for mobility of students among various universities of the country and also lay down the policy for giving flexibility to choose and learn different course modules among different departments, school and centers in a university or other universities;

(r) to work out the procedures, policies and practices to introduce more flexible approach to education and of 'adaptive pace of learning' with minimum and maximum duration for completion of a degree and other academic programmes;

(s) to introduce more flexible approach to education and of 'adaptive pace of learning' with minimum and maximum duration for completion of a degree and other academic programmes;

(t) to ensure that the research projects are an integral part of choice based modules for post-graduate programmes;

(u) to prepare academic calendar of the university for the subsequent academic year as per the guidelines from the regulatory authorities, three months before the expiry of the current academic year;

(v) to recommend to the Board of Management establishment of schools, departments, and centres;

(w) to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, as may be conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act, the Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations.

(2) The Academic Council shall refer all matters or decisions involving financial implications to the Board of Management through the Finance and Accounts Committee for its approval.

Section 25.Board of Planning and Development.

(1) The Board of Planning and Development shall be the principal planning body of the university and also be responsible for the monitoring of the developments of the university in accordance with the objectives of the university. It shall be responsible to plan development of the university, both physical and academic development and monitoring of teaching and non-teaching resources, providing a Broad vision and policy framework, and it shall conduct academic audit of the departments and centres of the university.

(2) The Board of Planning and Development shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor, Chairperson;

(b) Vice-Chancellor of the Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune;

(d) President of Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya aani Sanskriti Mandal;

(e) President of Vishwakosh Mandal;

(f) Chairperson of Bhasha Sallagar Samiti, Maharashtra State;

(g) one person actively working in the field of computational linguistic in Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC) or Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(h) one eminent expert in the field of Historical Research, Interdisciplinary Studies, social linguistics, etc., to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(i) two eminent experts having outstanding contribution in promotion and development of Marathi language and literature nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(j) one eminent expert in the field of Maharashtra studies, performing arts, etc., to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(k) Deans of Schools;

(l) Director of Higher Education or his representative, not below the rank of Joint Director;

(m) Heads of the sub-centres;

(n) one member nominated by the Board of Management from amongst themselves;

(o) one member nominated by the Academic Council from amongst themselves;

(p) Registrar, Member-Secretary.

(3) The Board of Planning and Development shall meet at such intervals as it may deem expedient, but it shall meet at least thrice a year.

Section 26.Powers and duties of Board of Planning and Development.

The Board of Planning and Development shall exercise the following powers and perform the following duties, namely :-

(1) to recommend to the Board of Management the broad development programmes in education, having regard to the objectives of the university;

(2) to review the maintenance of standards in instruction, education, research, training and examinations within the university;

(3) to arrange for inspection of university departments and centres, with a view to assessing their academic performance and needs;

(4) to advise the Board of Management and Academic Council on any matter which it may deem necessary for the fulfilment of the objects of the university;

(5) to prepare university perspective development plans, both short term and long term, keeping in view the objectives of the university as laid down in the Act, and with due regard to the State and National Educational Policy and submit the same to the Board of Management for approval;

(6) to recommend to the Board of Management, the development and collaborative programmes for the departments and centres of the university;

(7) to monitor and report the progress of all such approved development and collaborative programmes to the Board of Management;

(8) to evaluate and assess the use of grants by the university departments and centres in respect of development projects and send the report to the Academic Council;

(9) to assess the manpower requirements of trained persons in different fields, such as, commerce, industry, social service, science and technology and make necessary recommendations to the Academic Council introducing and strengthening of relevant courses of study;

(10) to organize academic audit of development and collaborative programmes of the university, according to the guidelines of University Grants Commission or National Assessment Accreditation Council at least once in three years or earlier, if deemed necessary and make necessary recommendations to the university for implementation;

(11) to encourage Marathi as a medium of instruction and communication;

(12) to prepare textbooks as resource material in the print format and electronic format for the under-graduate and post-graduate students;

(13) to translate academic classic works particularly from English and other modern languages in Marathi in print format and electronic format for students;

(14) to undertake the translation of English books in various subjects in collaboration with other universities and colleges as a consortium;

(15) to make extensive use of information and communication technology to enrich and spread Marathi language and literature;

(16) to undertake advance research in Marathi related to cultural and linguistic relation to other languages, carry out translation of works of literature from other languages into Marathi keeping in mind inter-culturalism;

(17) to encourage conceptual, critical, creative and theoretical thinking in Marathi;

(18) to prepare and offer courses of professional and applied nature in Marathi;

(19) to carry out research of variance of Marathi language in different regions;

(20) to facilitate publishing reports, monographs, books, research volumes in Marathi;

(21) to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, as may be conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act, the Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations.

Section 27.Schools of Studies.

The university shall have the following Schools of Studies, namely :-

(1) School of Linguistics and Language Engineering.- This School includes the following university departments and centres, namely :-

(i) Department of Language and Scriptology.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a)Philosophy of language, language planning, concept of language family;

(b)historical, descriptive and comparative linguistics; br

(c)scriptology and study of various scripts of Marathi language i.e. Modi, Mahanubhav, Brail, Argot, etc.;

(d) study of signs, symbols of inscription or petrograph and scripts on shilalekh, copper plates, coins, historical documents, old manuscripts and creation of pictorial and descriptive dictionaries in Marathi;

(e) study of mythology in Marathi literature.

(ii)Department of Language Engineering and Computational Linguistics.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) information extraction and text mining;

(b) sentimental analysis of conversation discourse;

(d) natural language interface;

(e) phonetic software, spell-check boards in Marathi;

(f) development of citation multimode reader, plagiarism checker, fog index search reader or machine;

(g) development of teaching aids, such as language acquisition software, chat bots, message boards, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, image classification, speech transcription software, etc.;

(h) teaching of computer languages, simulation games, etc.;

(i) use of language lab for teaching and research programmes.

(iii)Department of Psycho-cognitive and Neurolinguistics.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) comprehension of speech, speech therapy and therapeutic linguistics;

(b) study of dysphemia and hearing loss;

(iv)Department of Socio-Linguistics and Dialectology.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) socio-linguistics theories, dialect geography, survey of dialects, study of dialects and making grammar and dictionaries;

(b) phonological editing and preservation of dialects; study of Argot dialects;

(v) Department of Language Teaching, Training and Research.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) teaching, training and research in language; teaching-learning methods such as the direct method, grammar translation, developing oral ability, acquiring vocabulary;

(b) communicative language teaching, language pedagogy;

(vi) Department of Indian and Foreign Languages and Translation Studies.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) teaching of Indian languages Antarbharti project (Gujrati, Kannad, Telugu, Malyali, Bangala, Sindhi, Panjabi, etc.);

(b) teaching of foreign languages -Vishva Bharati Project (English, French, Japani, Arebic, etc.);

(vii) Department of Lexicography.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) use of languages in administration, education, judiciary, legislature, mass communication, etc., in accordance with the language policy of India;

(b) development of dictionaries in Marathi terminology in various fields;

(c) teaching and research programmes of lexicography, theories of dictionary components and structures, data organization, etc.;

(d) making of electronic dictionaries, hypertext writing, etc.

(2) School of Arts and Literature.- This School includes the following university departments and centres, namely :-

(i) Department of Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Applied Arts and Crafting.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) fine arts, performing arts, applied arts, calligraphy;

(b) design and decoration of practical objects, fashion designing, etc. (Ceramic art and sculpture, furniture design);

(d) 'kalabhavan' for performances in music, dance, drama, etc.

(ii) Department of Classical Languages and Medieval Marathi Literatures.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) study of classical languages and literature such as Sanskrit, Prakrut, Pali, Parsian, Dakhani;

(b) social and literary contribution of Mahanubhav, Warkari, Jain, Sufi, Veershaiva, Buddhism, Nath or Shakt Sects, Panditi and Bakhar Literature, etc.;

(c) study of modern and contemporary Marathi literature, influence study, various trends and movements in literature. /b r

(iii) Department of Philosophy, Oriental and Oxidental aesthetics, stylistics and hermeneutics.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) Indian and Western Philosophy;

(b) Aesthetics and Poetics (Oriental and Oxidental);

(d) History of Marathi poetics and criticism;

(e) Philosophical thinkers and literary critics in Marathi.

(iv) Department of Creative and Professional Writing in Marathi.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :- (a) children literature, fiction writing, drama and cyberpunk writing;

(b) value education through literature with special reference to National Education Policy, 2020;

(3) School of Maharashtralogy and Social Sciences.- This School includes the following university departments and centres, namely :-

(i) Department of Maharashtralogy and Cultural Studies.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) indology and maharashtralogy conceptual framework and methodology;

(b) cultural history of Maharashtra (socio-political-cultural institutions, caste system, rural-urban society, philosophical schools and traditions, natural and human resources, class-struggle, ethical and aesthetical values, social transformation, art, literature, science, traditions, agriculture, industry, business, public administration, human rights, social reforms);

(c) regional and sub-cultural Studies (Folklore, Folk-culture, Folk-literature and Arts, Subaltern Studies, underworld culture, traditional gender roles, women's rights and feminist movement);

(d) contemporary social trends of Marathi society;

(e) cyber-cultural shift and its impact on Maharashtra.

(ii) Department of Brihan Maharashtra Studies.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) history and culture of Marathi provinces (Outside of Maharashtra i.e. Tanjavore, Baroda, Gwalior, etc.);

(b) administrative and social reforms in Marathi provinces;

(iii) Department of Social Sciences.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) History, Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology;

(b) Political Science, Public Administration, Law;

(d) Geography, Natural Resources and Environment.

(4) School of Interdisciplinary Studies.- This School includes the following university departments and centres, namely :-

(i) Department of Journalism and Mass Communication.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) Communication Science,

(b) Print Media,

(d) Digital Media,

(e) Wired or Online Journalism,

(f) Advertising,

(g) Animation,

(h) Cyberpunk,

(i) Electronic Neighbourhood,

(j) Media Criticism, etc.

(ii) Department of Commerce and Management.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) business and marketing, insurance, debentures, share capital and share market;

(b) advertising, branding, copyright and commercial writing patterns and methods.

(iii) Department of Library and Information Science.- This Department shall provide for instructions, extension, teaching, learning and training in the following subjects, branches and disciplines, namely :-

(a) library and information science;

(b) organization, access, information extraction methods, collection and regulation of information, dissemination of information sources;

(d) history of library and archival science;

(e) classification system and record management;

(f) indexing and reference services.

Section 28.Centres for Academic Services.

The university shall establish following centres for Academic Services, namely :-

(1) Centre for Knowledge Resources, Translation and Interpretation Services.- This centre shall provide basic learning material and translations of reference books, etc. to this and other universities and required services of any other translation and interpretation in Marathi, training programmes in curriculum designing, question banks, creativity and invention methods and collaborative knowledge production.

(2) Centre for Audio-Video and Computational Literature Production.- This Centre shall provide for,-

(a) concept of university on online teaching-learning programmes through Audio-Visual (AV) Studio;

(b) production of Audio-Visual (AV) teaching learning material and broadcast-telecast lessons of experts in various fields through knowledge transmission channels.

(3) International Centre for Promotion of Marathi Language, Marathi Literature and Culture.- This centre shall provide for,-

(a) collaboration programmes with foreign universities and Marathi organizations to promote Marathi language, Marathi literature and culture;

(b) cultural exchange programmes, collaborative research activities, etc.

(4) Library and Information Centre.- This centre shall provide,-

(a) services to students and faculty members, the record of thoughts, ideas through reference books and reference services;

(b) collection of reference books, digital books and periodicals;

(c) a collection of films, photographs and other non-book material, newspapers, pamphlets, tapes, micro films, graphs, charts, etc.

(5) Museum and Archaeology Centre.- This centre shall provide,-

(a) museum of Marathi manuscripts, rare books, Audio-Visual of kirtan, performances of drama, music, folk loves collection of cultural objects related to Marathi culture and history, musical instruments, etc.

(b) preservation of the literary and cultural heritage of Maharashtra.

(6) Computational Linguistic Lab.- This centre shall provide for,-

(a) phonetic lab for speech analysis, speech recognition, forensic analysis;

(b) use of multispeech video phonetic electrograph and software for teaching language programmes;

(c) Computational Linguistic Laboratory for machine learning, deep learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), etc., facilities of speech synthesizer, machine translation, corpus annotation tools for fascinating new area of research in linguistics, etc.

(7) Psycholinguistic Laboratory.- Psycholinguistic laboratory shall provide for various languages tests such as test for early reading ability, comprehensive test of phonological processing, test of pre-school early literacy, primary test of non-verbal intelligence.

(8) Centre for Book Production and Printing Services.- This centre shall provide for,-

(a) publish various reference books in Marathi;

(b) translation of monographs and research material in Marathi;

(d) services of content editing, language-editing, copy-editing, proof-reading, layout designing, etc.

Section 29.Board of Studies.

(1) Each School shall have one Board of Studies.

(2) The Board of Studies shall be the principal academic authority of each School in respect of studies and research in relation to the subjects or group of subjects taught in the university departments and centres under the aegis of the School. The Board of Studies shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Dean of the School-Chairperson;

(b) Heads of Departments and Heads of Centres under the School;

(d) two associate professors and two assistant professors from the School, other than heads of the department or centre, according to seniority for a period of two and half years by rotation;

(e) three members nominated by the Academic Council from outside the university, having special knowledge in any subject assigned to the School or in any allied branch of knowledge;

(f) one associate professor from the School to be nominated by the Dean of the School-Member-Secretary.

Section 30.Powers and duties of Board of Studies.

The Board of Studies shall have the following powers and functions, namely :-

(1) to co-ordinate the teaching and research work in the departments and centres under the School;

(2) to appoint committees to organize the teaching and research work in subjects or areas which are related to more than one department or centre under the School, or which do not fall within the purview of any department or centre, and to supervise the work of such committees. The composition, powers and functions of such committees shall be prescribed by the Regulations;

(3) to recommend to the Academic Council the courses or programmes of study as recommended by the university department or centre under the School;

(4) to consider and recommend to the Academic Council the postgraduate courses or programmes of study in the university;

(5) to recommend to the Academic Council names of examiners and moderators, except in respect of research degrees;

(6) to recommend to the Academic Council the creation and abolition of teaching posts after considering proposals received from departments and centres;

(7) to frame general rules for the evaluation of seasonal work;

(8) to approve, on the recommendation of the Committee for Advanced Studies and Research, the award of research degrees to candidates who are eligible for award of such degrees, in accordance with the Ordinances framed in that behalf;

(9) to consider schemes for the advancement of the standards of teaching and research, and to submit such proposals to the Academic Council;

(10) to promote research within the School and to submit research reports to the Academic Council;

(11) to frame the general time-table of the School of Studies;

(12) to consider any proposals regarding the welfare of the students of the School which the university Students' Council may submit;

(13) to prepare the academic perspective plan of the university departments and centres under the School and recommend the same to the Board of Management through the Academic Council for approval;

(14) to perform all other functions which may be prescribed by the Act, the Statutes or the Ordinances, and to consider all such matters as may be referred to it by the Management Council, the Academic Council, any authority or the Vice-Chancellor.

(15) to delegate to the Dean, or any other member of the Board or to a Committee such general or specific powers, as may be decided upon by the Board, from time to time.

Section 31.Board of Examinations and Evaluation.

(1) The Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall be the authority to deal with all matters relating to examinations and evaluation. The Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall also oversee the conduct of examinations in the university departments.

(2) The Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall meet at least twice in an academic year or as and when required. The quorum for the meeting shall be six members.

(3) The Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor, Chairperson;

(b) Deans of all Schools;

(d) one Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation from other university or Dean of Academics of other higher learning institutes of repute, nominated by the Board of Management;

(e) one evaluation expert nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(f) Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation, Member-Secretary.

Section 32.Powers and duties of Board of Examinations and Evaluation.

(1) The Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall have the following powers and duties, namely :-

(a) to devise policy, mechanism and operational strategies to do the tasks relating to assessment of performance of students efficiently and in a time bound manner;

(b) to ensure proper organization of examinations and tests of the university, including moderation, tabulation, evaluation and timely declaration of results;

(c) to prepare the financial estimates relating to examinations and evaluation for incorporation in the annual financial estimates (budget) of the university and shall submit the same to the Finance and Accounts Committee;

(d) to arrange for strict vigilance during the conduct of examinations so as to avoid use of unfair means by the students, teachers, invigilators, supervisors, etc.;

(e) to establish procedures and devise operative mechanism for credit assessment in the modular structure by the teachers and use computer technology for the entire process of assessment and evaluation including creating and effectively using a repository of question banks;

(f) to ensure that the assessment of answer books shall be done centrally through central assessment system by following system of masking and de-masking of answer books or by on-screen assessment for ensuring the objective of secrecy;

(g) to undertake examination and evaluation reforms to bring objectivity and transparency in the examination and evaluation system;

(h) to appoint paper-setters, examiners and moderators from amongst the persons included in the panels prepared by the respective School and where necessary, having regard to the recommendations made by the committee under clause (b) of sub-section (5), remove them or debar them;

(i) to approve detailed programme of examinations and evaluation as prepared by the Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation;

(j) to consider the reports of review of results of university examinations forwarded by the Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation;

(k) to hear and decide the complaints relating to conduct of examinations and evaluation;

(l) to exercise such other powers in relation to examinations and evaluation, as may be assigned to it by or under this Act.

(2) In case of any emergency requiring immediate action to be taken, the Director of the Board of Examinations and Evaluation or any other officer or person authorized by him in that behalf, shall take such action as he thinks fit and necessary, and shall report the action taken by him at the next meeting of the Board of Management.

(3) (a) In order to appoint paper-setters, examiners and moderators, the Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall constitute committees for every faculty consisting of,-

(i) Dean of concerned School-Chairperson;

(ii) Heads of the Departments;

(iii) Director of Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall act as a Secretary of such committee.

(b) No member of the Board of Examinations and Evaluation or the committees constituted under this section shall be appointed as a paper-setter, examiner, moderator or referee:

Provided that, a course teacher shall set the question paper of the course instructed by him in the academic term:

Provided further that, the Vice-Chancellor shall have power to appoint a member of the Board of Examinations and Evaluation or the committees constituted under this section, as a paper-setter, examiner, moderator or referee where no teacher relating to such subject who is not a member of the Board of Examinations and Evaluation or the committees is available.

(4) It shall be obligatory on every teacher and on the non-teaching employee of the university, to render necessary assistance and service in respect of examinations of the university and evaluation of students as prescribed by Statutes. If any teacher or non-teaching employee fails to comply with the order of the university, in this respect, it shall be treated as misconduct and the employee shall be liable for disciplinary action. In case of failure on the part of the teaching or non-teaching employee of university, to comply with the order of the university in this respect, the Vice-Chancellor shall have power to take an appropriate action against them, which may include imposing penalties including suspension of approval to the appointment of a teacher, as may be prescribed by the Statutes.

(5) (a) In order to investigate and take disciplinary action for failure to comply with the order of the university for rendering assistance or service in respect of examinations by or on behalf of the university or evaluation of students or formal practices and lapses on the part of candidates, paper-setters, examiners, moderators, referees, teachers or any other persons connected with the conduct of examinations including the pre-examination stage and the post-examination stage or at any stage whatsoever, the Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall constitute a committee of not more than five persons of whom one shall be the Chairperson.

(b) Such committee shall submit its report and recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor, who may direct the Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation, the disciplinary action to be taken against the person or persons involved in the malpractices, directly or indirectly, and the Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall proceed to implement the decision of the Vice-Chancellor.

Section 33.Board of Research and Innovation.

(1) There shall be a Board of Research and Innovation for creation and cultivation of an enabling environment to propagate the concept of innovation and to convert the innovative ideas into working models through a process of incubation which shall finally lead to the creation of enterprise.

(2) The Board of Research and Innovation shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor, Chairperson;

(b) Deans of all Schools;

(c) five eminent persons from industry, management, research parks, incubation centres, etc., to be nominated by the Board of Management;

(d) one Chief Finance officer or equivalent officer from the industry, corporate or bank nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(e) two teachers from university departments and centres, who are active in research and development and innovation, to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(f) two persons from Research and Development organizations, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(g) Dean of any School to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor as the Member-Secretary.

(3) There shall not be less than four meetings of the Board to be conducted in the year.

Section 34.Functions and duties of Board of Research and Innovation.

The Board of Research and Innovation shall have the following functions and duties, namely :-

(a) to approve the topic of thesis or dissertation in the subject;

(b) to recommend to the Vice-Chancellor a panel of referees for thesis or dissertations for awarding post-graduate, doctorate and higher degrees, based on the criteria, as approved by the Academic Council;

(c) to recommend to the Dean of the respective School, by following appropriate process, names of post-graduate teachers, research scientists in the recognized research and other institutions, active research and development experts having not less than ten years' experience in research and development laboratories or centres in variety of industries, for recognition as approved research guides;

(d) to undertake any other task in academic and research and development matters, as may be assigned to it by the Deans and the Academic Council.

Section 35.Board of Students' Development.

(1) There shall be a Board of Students' Development to plan and oversee the various cultural, welfare, sports and extension activities of the students in the university departments. The activities of the Board of Student's Development shall be carried out by the Director of Board of Students' Development.

(2) The Board of Students' Development shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor as the Chairperson;

(b) one professional each, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, in the fields of performing arts, fine arts, sports and National Service Scheme (NSS);

(c) one teacher each, to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, who are involved in cultural, welfare, sports, National Service Scheme (NSS) activities out of whom two shall be women;

(d) not more than two office bearers of university Students Council, nominated by the Director-Board of Students' Development;

(e) National Service Scheme (NSS) co-ordinator of the university;

(f) Director, Board of Students' Development as the Member-Secretary.

Section 36.Functions and duties of Board of Student's Development.

The Board of Students' Development shall have the following powers and duties, namely :-

(a) to take necessary steps for promotion of culture, sports, extension and other students' development activities in the university;

(b) to establish links with regional and national bodies in the various cultural and sports activities and to promote various activities jointly with them;

(c) to take up activities to promote interest and skills for appreciation in the field of performing arts, pure art and painting skills, sports and other extension activities;

(d) to hold university level competitions, skills development workshops, interactive activities in order to bring the society closer to the university;

(e) to establish rapport with groups (excluding political parties), societies and other professional bodies so as to involve them in activities of the Board of Students' Development;

(f) to devise, develop and implement innovative schemes of students' development including Earn and Learn Scheme, Education Loan, Directors Aid Fund, Endowment Schemes, Student Exchange Schemes, etc.;

(g) to devise a mechanism of grievance redressal of student and prevention of sexual harassment and ragging of students and to prepare and submit the report of annual activities related to the students' development, National Service Scheme (NSS) and sports to the Board of Management for its approval;

(h) to take necessary measures to ensure participation of well-trained teams in various regional, national and international level competitions, and cultural, recreational, sports and other activities;

(i) to devise, develop and implement schemes of career counselling, psychological counselling and rehabilitation and upliftment of differently abled students;

(j) to co-ordinate activities of National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) in the university;

(k) to recommend to competent authority to make alternative arrangements regarding examinations for students participating in the inter-university or national or international sports, cultural competitions or National Cadet Corps (NCC) or National Service Scheme (NSS) events during the relevant schedules of examinations, as may be prescribed by the Ordinances;

(l) to undertake any other task, as may be assigned by the university authorities so as to carry out objectives of the Board;

(m) to take up activities in the university departments to promote interest and also skills in various sports as per the policy of the university and also national policies in the field of sports;

(n) to hold the university level competitions, sports skills development camps, interactive activities and also training workshops in various sports in order to bring the society closer to the colleges, institutions and universities;

(o) to recommend to the competent authority to make alternative arrangements regarding examinations of students participating in the inter-university or national or international sports tournaments or events during the relevant schedules of examinations, as may be prescribed by the Ordinances;

(p) to assist students on the issues and difficulties in various facets related to their day to day life and other aspects connected with their academic world, personality development and healthy campus life;

(q) to advise the Students Grievance Redressal Cell at the university to resolve the Grievances of Students and to suggest to the higher authorities different ways and means to minimize and prevent such grievances.

Section 37.Powers, functions and duties of authorities.

The constitution, powers, functions and duties of the authorities of the university, not laid down under any of the provisions of this Act shall be as prescribed by the Statutes.

Section 38.Term of office of members of authority.

(1) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the term of other than ex-officio member of every authority constituted under this Act shall be five years from the date on which he enters the office.

(2) The process of nomination shall be commenced at least six months before expiry of the term of members other than ex-officio members of the authority.

Section 39.Cessation of membership.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or the Statutes made thereunder, where a person, nominated or appointed, as the case may be, as an officer of the university or a member of any of the authority or bodies of the university by virtue of his being eligible to be so nominated or appointed as such officer or member under any of the categories of officers or members specified by or under the relevant provisions of this Act in relation to such office, authority or body, he shall cease to be such officer of the university or member of such authority or body as soon as he ceases to belong to such category and shall be deemed to have vacated his office as such officer or member.

Section 40.Disqualification of member of authority.

A person shall be disqualified for being a member of any of the authorities, bodies and committees of the university and voting to the authorities, bodies and committees, if he,-

(a) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or

(b) is an un-discharged insolvent and stands so declared by a competent court; or

(d) is conducting or engaging himself in private tuitions or private coaching classes; or

(e) has been punished for indulging in or promoting unfair practices in the conduct of any examination and evaluation, in any form, anywhere; or

(f) has willfully omitted or refused to carry out the provisions of this Act, Statutes, Regulations or Ordinances, or has acted in any manner detrimental to the interests of the university; or

(g) has been punished in any form, by the competent authority for committing a misconduct; or

(h) discloses or causes to disclose to the public, in any manner whatsoever, any confidential matter, in relation to the examination and evaluation, the knowledge of which he has come to be in possession, due to his official position:

Provided that, the right of voting of the person in respect of clauses (e) and (g) shall remain suspended during the term of punishment under the said clauses.

Section 41.Conclusiveness of decision of authority.

Save as otherwise provided by or under the provisions of this Act, each authority of the university while acting and exercising its powers and discharging functions or duties assigned to it by or under the provisions of this Act, shall have the exclusive jurisdiction to deal with and decide the matters assigned to it and discharging functions or duties assigned to it by or under the provisions of this Act.

Section 42.Resignation of membership.

(1) A member, other than an ex-officio member, may resign by writing under his signature. A nominee of the Chancellor may resign by writing under his signature addressing to the Chancellor, and any other member may resign by writing under his signature addressing to the Chairperson of the Board of Management or the Vice-Chancellor. The person shall cease to be a member upon his resignation being accepted by the Chancellor, or the Chairman of the Board of Management or the Vice-Chancellor, as the case may be, or upon expiry of thirty days from the date of resignation, whichever is earlier.

(2) If a person nominated or appointed to any authority or body remains absent without prior permission of the authority or body for three consecutive meetings, he shall be deemed to have vacated his membership and he shall cease to be a member from the date of the third such meeting in which he has remained absent.

Section 43.Meetings of authorities.

(1) Save as otherwise provided by this Act, all matters with regard to the conduct of meetings of the authorities, bodies or committees, if any, constituted by the university, shall be such, as may be prescribed by the Statutes.

(2) A meeting of an authority or body shall be convened on the date determined by the Chairperson by a notice issued by its Secretary.

(3) Except as otherwise provided, the quorum for a meeting shall ordinarily be one-third of the number of the sitting members. If there is no quorum, the meeting shall be adjourned by the Chairperson to a specific time on the same day, or on a later date and no quorum shall be necessary for such adjourned meeting. No quorum shall be necessary on the following day of the continued meeting.

(4) Where no provision is made by or under the Statutes for a Chairperson to preside over a meeting of any authority or body of the university or when the Chairperson so provided for is absent and no provision is made for any other person to preside, the members present shall elect a person from amongst themselves to preside at the meeting.

(5) Save as otherwise provided, all items, questions, matters or proposals on the agenda shall be decided by a majority of votes of members present.

(6) The Chairperson shall have a vote. In case of equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote. The secretary, if not a member, shall have the right to participate in the deliberations but shall not have the right to vote.

Section 44.Filling of vacancy.

When any vacancy occurs in the office of a member, other than an ex-officio member the vacancy shall be filled, within a period of three months, from the same category.

Section 45.Statutes and their subject matters.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Statutes may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely :-

(1) conferment of honorary degrees and academic distinctions;

(2) establishment and maintenance of the sub-centres, university departments, schools and hostels;

(3) constitution, powers, duties and functions of authorities and bodies of the university not laid down under any of the provisions of this Act;

(4) closure of university schools, departments or centres;

(5) rules of procedure for conduct of business at the meetings of authorities of the university;

(6) appropriation of funds of the university for furtherance of the objects of the university;

(7) acceptance and management of trusts, bequests, donations, endowments and grants from individuals or organizations;

(8) disciplinary action against defaulting teachers, officers and other employees of the university;

(9) conditions of residence, conduct and discipline of the students of the university, and the action to be taken against them for breach of discipline or misconduct, including the following, namely :-

(a) use of unfair means in an examination, or abetment thereof;

(b) refusal to appear or give evidence in any authorized inquiry by an officer in charge of an evaluation and examination, or by any officer or authority of the university; or

(10) mechanism and procedure for redressal of grievances of the students;

(11) functions and duties of Students' Council in the university;

(12) norms and procedure to be followed while nominating members on authorities, boards and committees by the Vice-Chancellor under this Act;

(13) procedure to be followed for purchases under sub-section (6) of section 62;

(14) any matter which is to be prescribed by Statutes or which is necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Act.

Section 46.Making of Statutes.

(1) The Board of Management may, from time to time, make new or additional Statutes or may amend or repeal the Statutes in the manner hereinafter provided:

Provided that, the first Statutes shall be made within one year from the appointed date.

(2) The Statutes Committee shall be constituted by the Board of Management as follows, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor, Chairperson;

(b) Dean of each School of university;

(d) Registrar of university, Member-Secretary;

(e) one legal advisor or counsel appointed by the Board of Management.

(3) The Statutes Committee shall prepare and propose draft Statutes concerning the matters referred to in the last preceding section and shall present to the Board of Management.

(4) Every Statutes passed by the Board of Management shall be submitted to the Chancellor who may give or withhold his assent thereto or send it back to the Board of Management for reconsideration. The Chancellor may send the draft Statutes to the State Government for its views, if there are implications, financial or otherwise, on the part of the State Government in the implementation of such Statutes.

(5) No Statutes passed by the Board of Management shall be valid or shall come into force until assented by the Chancellor.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing sub-sections, the Chancellor, either suo moto or on the advice of the State Government, may, direct the university to make provisions in the Statutes in respect of any matter specified by him and if the Board of Management fails to initiate to adopt the direction within thirty days of its receipt, the Chancellor may, after considering the reasons, if any, communicated by the Board of Management for its inability to comply with such direction, make or amend the Statutes in that respect, suitably.

(7) The Board of Management may take into consideration the draft of a Statutes either of its own motion or on a proposal by the Statutes Committee. In the case of a draft which is not proposed by the Statutes Committee, the Board of Management, before considering the same, shall obtain the opinion of the Statutes Committee:

Provided that, if the Statutes Committee fails to submit its opinion within three months from the date on which it receives the draft, the Board of Management may proceed to take the draft into consideration.

(8) The Board of Management if it thinks necessary may obtain the opinion of any officer, authority or body of the university with regard to any draft Statutes which is before it for consideration:

Provided that, if any such draft Statutes pertains to academic matters, the Board of Management shall obtain the opinion of the Academic Council before considering the same.

(9) The Board of Management, shall pass the Statutes and shall submit it to the Chancellor for his assent.

Section 47.Ordinances and their subject matters.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Ordinances may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely :-

(1) norms and process of fixation of fees, other fees and charges for courses and programmes to be adopted by Fee Fixation Committee under this Act;

(2) conditions governing the appointment and duties of examiners;

(3) conduct of examinations, other tests and evaluation, and the manner in which the candidates may be assessed or examined by the examiners;

(4) constitution, powers, duties and functions of the Equal Opportunity Cell including provisions for establishing a Cell in accordance with the provision of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016) and the guidelines and directives of the University Grants Commission, issued from time to time;

(5) mechanism for prevention of ragging of students of the university;

(6) mechanism for prevention of sexual harassment of teachers, employees, students of the university and redressal of grievances relating to sexual harassment, incidences and penalty for those who indulge in sexual harassment, in accordance with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (14 of 2013);

(7) any academic matter which, by or under this Act or the Statutes is to be prescribed by the Ordinance or which is necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Act.

Section 48.Ordinances and its making.

(1) The Board of Management may, from time to time, make new or additional Ordinances or may amend or repeal the Ordinances in the manner hereinafter provided.

(2) No Ordinance concerning academic matters shall be made, amended or repealed by the Board of Management unless a draft thereof has been proposed by the Academic Council.

(3) All Ordinances made by the Board of Management shall have effect from the date of the meeting or from such date as it may direct, but every Ordinance so made shall be submitted to the Chancellor within two weeks from the date of the Board of Management meeting. The Chancellor shall have the power to direct the Board of Management, within four weeks of the receipt of the Ordinances, to suspend its operation, and he shall, as soon as possible, inform the Board of Management of his objection to it. He may, after receiving the comments of the Board of Management either withdraw the order suspending the Ordinances or disallow the Ordinances, and his decision shall be final.

Section 49.Regulations.

(1) Subject to the provisions prescribed by or under this Act, the Board of Management may make Regulations consistent with this Act, Statutes and Ordinances, for,-

(a) institution of fellowship, travelling fellowship, scholarship, studentship, medals and prizes and for their award;

(b) collaborations with other universities, institutions and organizations for mutually beneficial academic programmes;

(d) providing for all or any of the matters which, by or under this Act, Statutes or Ordinances, are to be or may be provided by Regulations;

(e) all non-academic matters for which provision is, in the opinion of the Board of Management, necessary for the purposes of this Act, Statutes or Ordinances.

(2) Subject to the provisions prescribed by or under this Act, the Academic Council may make Regulations relating to the academic matters, consistent with this Act, Statutes and Ordinances.

(3) The Deans of schools shall draft and place for approval of the Board of Management or the Academic Council, as the case may be, the Regulations, providing for the matters referred to in sub-sections (1) and (2) and for all or any of the matters which, by or under this Act, Statutes or Ordinances, are to be or may be provided by Regulations.

Section 50.Grievances Redressal Committee.

(1) There shall be a Grievances Redressal Committee in the university to deal with all types of grievances; except grievances against the State Government including its officials, teachers and other employees of the university, which are not within the jurisdiction of the university Tribunal and Students Grievances Redressal Cell of the university.

(2) The university shall establish a Grievances Redressal Cell headed by the officer of the university not below the rank of the Assistant Registrar for providing administrative assistance to the Grievances Redressal Committee.

(3) The Grievances Redressal Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) retired Judge not below the rank of the District Judge, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, Chairperson;

(b) one Dean of School, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(d) Registrar, Member-Secretary;

(e) one teacher belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis) or Nomadic Tribes or Other Backward Classes and one non-teaching employee of the university nominated by the Board of Management;

(f) one legal advisor, or counsel appointed by the Board of Management:

Provided that, one member shall be a woman.

(4) The nomination of a retired Judge as the Chairperson and a Dean of a School as the member of the Grievances Redressal Committee, shall be for such period, not exceeding three years in aggregate, as the Vice-Chancellor may, from time to time, in each case decide.

(5) The Chairperson of the Grievances Redressal Committee shall be entitled for remuneration and conveyance charges, as may be determined by the university.

(6) The Grievances Redressal Committee shall hear, settle and decide grievances as per the law, as far as may be practicable, within three months, from the date of filing of the complaint.

(7) It shall be lawful for the Grievances Redressal Committee to entertain and decide grievances or complaints relating to service of the employees, which are not within the jurisdiction of the University and College Tribunal, after giving reasonable opportunity of being heard to both the parties.

(8) There shall be Students Grievance Redressal Cell at the university to resolve the Grievances of Students and to suggest to the higher authorities different ways and means to minimize and prevent such grievances. The functional mechanism of working of Students Grievance Redressal Cell shall be as prescribed by the Statutes, prepared in accordance with the provisions of the University Grants Commission (Grievance Redressal) Regulations, 2012, or any other regulations for the time being in force.

Section 51.Tribunal.

(1) The Tribunal established for the Sant Gadge Baba University, Amravati shall be the Tribunal for the purposes of this Act, for adjudication of disputes between the employees of the university and university, with regard to the matters specified in sub-section (1) of section 81 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 (Mah. VI of 2017).

(2) The other details and procedures provided in sections 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 (Mah. VI of 2017) shall be applicable mutatis mutandis to the university.

Section 52.Admissions.

Subject to all the reservation policies of the State Government for the admission in educational institutions, the admissions to all the courses in the university schools, departments, centres, sub-centres or regional centres shall be made by the university, on the basis of competitive merit, in accordance with the notifications, orders or rules made or issued by the State Government, from time to time, and the same shall be published by the university before the commencement of the academic session:

Provided that, having regard to the maintenance of discipline, the authority concerned shall have the power to refuse admission to a student, except at the entry point of any academic program.

Section 53.Disputes relating to admissions.

All the disputes relating to admissions to the university Schools, departments and centres including sub-centres or regional centres, shall be adjudicated by the university Students Grievance Redressal Cell as per sub-section (8) of section 50.

Section 54.Examination and evaluation.

Before the end of each academic year, the Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall prepare and publish a schedule of examinations for the next academic year and choice based credit system of evaluations for each and every course wherever applicable, conducted by the university and shall strictly adhere to the schedule. Failing which the concerned authority or officer of the university shall have to make a reasoned report to the Board of Management within thirty days and the directions or decisions of the Board of Management in this regard shall be final and binding:

Provided that, in case the university is unable to follow the said schedule due to reasons and circumstances beyond its control, it shall, as soon as practicable, submit a report to the Chancellor and to the State Government incorporating the detailed reasons for making a deviation from the published schedule.

Explanation.- "Schedule of examinations" means a table giving details about the time, day and date of the commencement of each paper which is a part of a scheme of examinations and shall also include the details about the practical examinations.

Section 55.Declaration of results.

The university shall strive to declare the results of every examination conducted by it within fifteen days from the last date of the examination for that particular course and shall in any case declare the results latest within thirty days thereof:

Provided that, if for any reasons whatsoever, the university is unable to finally declare the results of any examination and evaluation within the aforesaid period of thirty days, Director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation shall prepare a detailed report incorporating the reasons for such delay and submit the same through Vice-Chancellor to the Chancellor, to the Board of Management and to the State Government and the direction of the Chancellor in this regard shall be final and binding.

Section 56.Examinations and evaluation not invalid for non-compliance with schedule.

No examination or evaluation of the results of an examination or evaluation shall be held invalid only for the reasons that the university has not followed the schedule of examination.

Section 57.Sports and extracurricular activities.

The authorities of the university shall frame appropriate Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations to ensure that the students selected to represent their classes, as the case may be, for sports, culture and all other extra-curricular activities are selected entirely on the basis of merit, through open merit competition.

Section 58.Councils and Committees.

The following shall be the Committees and Councils constituted under this Act, namely :-

(i) Students' Council;

(ii) Finance and Accounts Committee;

(iii) Buildings and Works Committee;

(iv) Purchase and Sales Committee;

(v) Knowledge Resource Committee;

(vi) Fee Fixation Committee;

(vii) Selection and Appointment Committee;

(viii) Internal Quality Assurance Committee.

Section 59.Students' Council.

(1) There shall be a Students' Council to look after the welfare of the students and to promote and co-ordinate the extra-curricular activities of different student's associations for better corporate life. The Students' Councils shall not engage in political activities.

(2) The Students' Council shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Director, Board of Students' Development as the Chairperson;

(b) General Secretary, elected by the members of Students' Council from amongst themselves, as the Member Secretary;

(d) one lady student representative, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(e) one student representative belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis) or Nomadic Tribes or Other Backward Classes or Special Backward Category, by rotation, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor on the recommendation of Director, Board of Students' Development, National Service Scheme (NSS) and sports, as prescribed;

(f) one student each from,-

(i) National Service Scheme (NSS) or National Cadet Corps (NCC),

(ii) Sports, and

(iii) cultural activities, nominated by the Director, Board of Students' Development, from amongst the students of the university Departments who are engaged in National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), sports and cultural activities respectively, as prescribed.

(3) The first meeting of the university Students' Council shall be presided over by the Vice-Chancellor and shall be attended by such other officers, as he may deem fit.

(4) A student shall be eligible to be, or continue to be, a member of the Students' Council, only if he is enrolled as a full time student.

(5) The budget, frequency of meeting of the Students' Council shall be such, as may be prescribed by the Statutes.

(6) The nomination or election, as the case may be, of the student members of the Students' Council shall be made every year, as soon as possible after the commencement of the academic year, on a date as may be prescribed. The term of office of the student members shall begin with effect from the date of nomination or election and shall extend up to the last day of the academic year, unless they have, in the mean time, incurred any of the disqualifications specified by or under the Act, and shall then expire.

(7) One-third of the members of the Students' Council shall constitute the quorum. The procedure for conduct of business of the meetings and such other matters shall be such, as may be prescribed by the Statutes. The Students' Council shall meet at least once in every three months.

(8) The procedure for nomination or election, the powers and duties, authority for the conduct of election, mechanism for conduct of such elections, code of conduct for the candidates and election administrators and grievances redressal mechanism in respect of such election shall be such, as may be specified by the Board of Management, by order.

(9) The provisions of this section shall come into effect from such date after issuing the order under sub-section (8), as specified by the Board of Management in such order.

Section 60.Finance and Accounts Committee.

(1) There shall be a Finance and Accounts Committee to plan, co-ordinate and oversee the financial operations of the university. It shall examine the accounts, the progress of expenditure and all new proposals involving fresh expenditure in the light of the provisions available.

(2) The Finance and Accounts Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor as the Chairperson;

(b) Director of Accounts and Treasuries or his representative, not below the rank of Joint Director of Accounts and Treasuries;

(d) one person from the Academic Council, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(e) two experts nominated by the Board of Management, one of whom shall be a Chartered Accountant who is an expert in the field of accounting and auditing and the other shall be an expert in the area of finance;

(f) Auditor appointed by the university;

(g) Registrar;

(h) Finance and Accounts Officer as the Member-Secretary.

(3) The quorum for a meeting of the committee shall be five.

(4) All members of the committee other than ex-officio members shall hold office for a term of five years and shall not be eligible for re-nomination.

(5) The committee shall meet at least four times in a year.

(6) The Finance and Accounts Committee shall,-

(a) examine and consider annual statement of accounts, audited final statement of accounts and Audit Report and its compliance report, and the annual financial estimates to be presented by the Finance and Accounts Officer and recommend the same to the Board of Management for its approval;

(b) examine the progress of expenditure and all new proposals involving fresh expenditure in the light of the provisions available;

(c) recommend to the Board of Management the limits for the total recurring and non-recurring expenditure for the year, based on the income and resources of the university, including the proceeds of loans for productive work;

(d) recommend to the Board of Management productive investment and management of the university assets and resources;

(e) explore the possibilities of, augmenting further the resources for the development of the university;

(f) take necessary steps to have the university accounts audited by auditors appointed by the Board of Management;

(g) advise the Board of Management on matters related to the administration of the property and the funds of the university;

(h) ensure proper implementation of the orders issued by the State Government, from time to time, in respect of funds, assets, and other resources received from the State Government;

(i) advise on financial matters referred to it by the Board of Management, Academic Council or any other authority, body or committee or any officer of the university;

(j) report to the Vice-Chancellor any lapse or irregularity in financial matters which comes to its notice so that he may take suitable prompt actions after assessing the seriousness of the matter or refer it to the Board of Management;

(k) ensure that the annual accounts of the university, is open for audit by the auditors appointed by the Board of Management and the statutory audits of the State Government;

(l) study various reforms for management of financial resources, maintenance of accounts and use of modern technologies to enhance the efficiency in accounts maintenance and audit procedures;

(m) carry out any other functions and tasks relating to finance and accounts, as may be assigned by the university authorities.

Section 61.Buildings and Works Committee.

(1) There shall be a Buildings and Works Committee to carry out minor and major infrastructure development activities of the university efficiently and in a time bound manner.

(2) The Buildings and Works Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor as the Chairperson;

(b) Chancellor's nominee from the Board of Management;

(c) Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, in-charge of the region in which the university is situated, or his nominee not below the rank of Executive Engineer from that region;

(d) one eminent engineer, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor from the private sector;

(e) an eminent Architect, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor from the private sector;

(f) one senior civil engineer, preferably city engineer from the Amravati Municipal Corporation;

(g) one environmental civil engineer with knowledge of green buildings and modern technologies of construction, renovation and remodeling;

(h) head of the Planning and Architecture Department, if any;

(i) Finance and Accounts Officer;

(j) Registrar-Member-Secretary.

(3) All members of the committee, other than ex-officio members shall hold office for a term of three years and shall not be eligible for re-nomination.

(4) If any vacancy occurs in the office of a member, the same shall be filled within one month by the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor, as the case may be.

(5) The Buildings and Works Committee shall,-

(a) under direction and overall superintendence of the Board of Management, be responsible for the execution of all types of works, including major works to be executed through the private agency or contractor or the Public Works Department;

(b) accord administrative approval and financial sanction, subject to availability of funds in the budget, to the maintenance work;

(c) recommend and obtain administrative approval and expenditure sanction of the Board of Management in respect of all minor and major works;

(d) recommend to the Board of Management through the Finance and Accounts Committee, a 'Programme of Works' to be executed in the ensuing year, specifying maintenance works, minor works and major works, separately;

(e) prepare a panel of three architects and other specialized consultants of proven experience and merit for the university works and get the same approved by the Board of Management;

(f) on getting administrative approval and expenditure sanction of the Board of Management to minor and major works, to get the plans and estimates of such works prepared from the head of the Civil Engineering Department of the university or the architect selected for a project, borne on the panel of approved architects of the university;

(g) maintain a list of approved contractors on the basis of their technical experience and financial capability for execution of maintenance works and minor works;

(h) be responsible for making technical scrutiny, as may be considered necessary by it;

(i) be responsible, after careful scrutiny, for the acceptance of tenders received for maintenance works and major works;

(j) exercise general supervision over the work of the technical staff of the university, and in particular, ensure that essential records and data are maintained up-to-date and that the rejected tenders are retained for a reasonable period;

(k) ensure that the head of the Civil Engineering Department of the university or in his absence, faculty member of civil engineering certifies the completion of works in accordance with the designs finally approved by the architect, if appointed, in respect of maintenance works and minor works;

(l) associate and deliberate with the consulting architects, as and when necessary;

(m) settle rates not covered by the tender and settle claims and disputes with contractors in respect of approved major works, minor works and maintenance works:

Provided that, if any claims or disputes are likely to cause excess over the approved estimated cost of the works, prior sanction of the Board of Management shall be obtained to such an excess amount;

(n) exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, as may be conferred upon it by the Statutes.

(6) The Chairperson of the committee shall, in respect of major works, minor works and maintenance works, have the power to sanction the payment of monthly Running Account Bills of a work, subject to such bill having been examined by the architect, where appointed, and certified as 'fit for payment' by the head of the Civil Engineering Department of the university or in his absence, faculty member of the Civil Engineering Department. The bills so paid shall be put up for approval of the committee at its ensuing next meeting.

(7) If there are reasonable grounds for the Chairperson of the committee to believe that there is an emergency which requires immediate action to be taken, he may exercise the powers of the committee. Such cases shall be reported by the Chairperson at the ensuing next meeting of the committee.

(8) Procedure for the execution of all types of works in the university and procedure for conduct of business at the meetings of the committee, shall be as prescribed by the Statutes.

Section 62.Purchase and Sales Committee.

(1) There shall be a Purchase and Sales Committee for dealing with all the matters pertaining to all purchases and sales of the university, in respect of such items where individual cost of each item exceeds rupees ten lakh at a time.

(2) The Purchase and Sales Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor as the Chairperson;

(b) one member of Board of Management by the Vice-Chancellor;

(d) Registrar;

(e) Finance and Accounts Officer as the Member-Secretary.

(3) During the absence of the Finance and Accounts Officer, the Registrar shall act as the Secretary of the Purchase and Sales Committee.

(4) The Purchase and Sales Committee shall invite the head of the department or head of the centre for which the purchases are to be made.

(5) All members of the committee, other than ex-officio members shall hold office for a term of three years and shall not be eligible for a second consecutive term in the university.

(6) All matters pertaining to all purchases of the university in respect of such items where individual cost of each item is not more than rupees ten lakh at a time, shall be as prescribed by the Statutes.

(7) The powers and duties of the Purchase and Sales Committee and the procedure for its meetings, shall be as prescribed by the Statutes.

(8) If any vacancy occurs in the office of a member, the same shall be filled within one month by the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor, as the case may be.

Section 63.Knowledge Resource Committee.

(1) There shall be a Knowledge Resource Committee for administering, organizing and maintaining the Knowledge Resource Centre, print and electronic material and related services of the university.

(2) The Knowledge Resource Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor as the Chairperson;

(b) all Deans of Schools;

(c) two members nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, of whom one shall be from industry and the other shall be Librarian from a national level organization;

(d) Registrar;

(e) Finance and Accounts Officer;

(f) Director, Knowledge Resource Center as the Member-Secretary.

(3) All nominated members of the Knowledge Resource Committee, other than the ex-officio members, shall hold office for a period of three years and shall not be eligible for re-nomination.

(4) The Knowledge Resource Committee shall meet at least three times in a year.

(5) The Knowledge Resource Committee shall,-

(a) provide for proper organization and support for the functioning of the Knowledge Resource Centre, documentation services and maintenance of records in analogue and digital form;

(b) provide the approach and operational plan for modernization and improvement of the Knowledge Resource Centre and documentation services in both analogue and digital format;

(c) recommend to the Academic Council fees and other charges for the services and use of the Knowledge Resource Centre by students and others;

(d) prepare the annual budget and proposal for development of the Knowledge Resource Centre for approval of the Board of Management through the Finance and Accounts Committee;

(e) submit the annual report on the functioning of the Knowledge Resource Centre to the Board of Management through the Vice-Chancellor;

(f) establish a network with regional, national and international libraries and information centers;

(g) hold the information pertaining to all administrative, governance, academic and other documents and information and data pertaining to the working of schools, departments and administrative offices of the university and related to assessment and accreditation of the university;

(h) undertake any other task, as may be assigned by the Vice-Chancellor and university authorities so as to carry out objectives of the Knowledge Resource Centre.

(6) If any vacancy occurs in the office of a member, the same shall be filled within one month by the Vice-Chancellor.

Section 64.Fee Fixation Committee.

(1) There shall be a Fee Fixation Committee to work out the real cost of delivery of each and every under-graduate and post-graduate courses or programmes run by the university.

(2) The Fee Fixation Committee shall decide the tuition fees, development fees, other fees and charges for various courses or programmes as recommended by the Academic Council, and recommend it to the Board of Management for approval.

(3) The Fee Fixation Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) a former Vice-Chancellor or an eminent educationist having wide experience in the field of education, who shall not be connected with the university as the Chairperson;

(b) all Deans of Schools;

(c) one finance expert nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, preferably a Chartered Accountant, not connected with the university;

(d) one legal advisor, not connected with the university and appointed by the Board of Management;

(e) Registrar as the Member-Secretary.

(4) The quorum for a meeting of the committee shall be seven.

(5) All members of the committee, other than ex-officio members shall hold office for a term of five years and shall not be eligible for re-nomination.

(6) The tuition fees, development fees, other fees, and charges for various courses or programmes as recommended by the Fee Fixation Committee and finally approved by the Board of Management shall be applicable in general:

Provided that, these fees shall not be in contravention of the State Government policies in this regard.

(7) The committee shall meet at least twice in a year to examine and consider the fee fixation proposals on the basis of the norms, as prescribed in Ordinance and shall hold as many meetings as needed. The committee shall decide tuition fees, development fees, other fees and charges for various courses or programmes, at least six months before the commencement of academic year.

(8) If any vacancy occurs in the office of a member, the same shall be filled within one month by the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor, as the case may be.

Section 65.Selection and appointment of university teachers.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, Statutes and Ordinances, the Vice-Chancellor shall appoint according to the order of merit and recommendations made by the selection committee, a university teacher.

(2) The selection committee for making recommendations, for appointment of university teachers and Director of Knowledge Resource Center shall consist of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor as the Chairman;

(b) one person, not below the rank of professor, nominated by the Chancellor;

(d) the head of the concerned university department, center, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(e) not less than three experts nominated by the Board of Management out of a panel of not less than six names of experts, not connected with the university, recommended by the Academic Council, who have special knowledge of the subject for which the teacher is to be selected;

(f) one person not below the rank of Professor belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis) or Nomadic Tribes or Other Backward Classes, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(g) one nominee of the Board of Management not below the rank of Professor;

(h) one nominee of the Government not below the rank of Joint Director, Higher Education:

Provided that, a head referred to in clause (d), who is an Associate Professor shall be a member of the selection committee for the selection to the rank below Associate Professor:

Provided further that, one of the person to be nominated as a member of selection committee shall be a woman.

(3) Every vacant post of a university teacher, university created and Government approved, to be filled by selection, shall be duly and widely advertised, according to the draft approved by the Vice-Chancellor, together with particulars of the minimum and additional qualifications, as prescribed by Statutes, the emoluments and number of posts to be filled, the number of posts which are reserved for the members of the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis) or Nomadic Tribes or Other Backward Classes, to be determined by the Vice-Chancellor on the recommendation of the Board of Management, and reasonable time shall be allowed within which the applicants may, in response to the advertisement, submit their applications.

(4) At the beginning of the every academic year, a list of persons superannuating within a year shall be prepared and the list of probable vacancies shall be presented to the Board of Management for forwarding the same to the State Government for its approval for filling the vacant posts. The Registrar shall initiate the process and ensure that the posts shall be filled in before the incumbent retires and the new appointee is appointed immediately on his retirement.

(5) The date of the meeting of every selection committee shall be so fixed as to allow a notice of at least fifteen days prior of such meeting, be given to each member; and the particulars of each candidate shall be sent to each member of the selection committee so as to reach him at least seven days before the date of meeting.

(6) The quorum to constitute a meeting of every selection committee shall be seven members, of whom at least two shall be persons nominated under clause (e) of sub-section (2).

(7) If, on petition by any person directly affected, or suo motu, the Chancellor, after making or having made such inquiries or obtaining or having obtained such explanations, including explanations from the teachers whose appointments are likely to be affected, as may be or may have been necessary, made by any authority or officer of the university at any time was not in accordance with the law at that time in force, the Chancellor, may, by order, notwithstanding anything contained in the contract relating to the conditions of service of such teacher, direct the Vice-Chancellor to terminate his appointment after giving him one month's notice or one month's salary in lieu of such notice, and the Vice-Chancellor shall forthwith comply and take steps for a fresh selection to be made. The person whose appointment has been so terminated shall not be eligible to apply again for the same post.

(8) Any order made by the Chancellor, under the last preceding sub-section shall be final and a copy of the order shall be served on the teacher concerned by the Vice-Chancellor within three days from its receipt.

(9) It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chancellor, to ensure that no payment whatsoever is made to any person, by way of salary or allowance, from the funds of the university, for any period after the termination of his services, and any authority or officer authorizing or making any such payment shall be liable to reimburse the amount so paid to the university.

Section 66.Internal Quality Assurance Committee.

(1) There shall be an Internal Quality Assurance Committee in the university to plan, guide and monitor quality assurance and quality enhancement in all the academic and administrative activities of the university.

(2) The Internal Quality Assurance Committee in the university shall be constituted and function, as may prescribed by the Statutes and in accordance with the guidelines of the University Grants Commission, accrediting agencies, the State Government and any regulating authority, from time to time.

(3) The Annual Quality Assurance Report shall be prepared by the Internal Quality Assurance Committee and shall be placed before the Board of Management for its approval and follow-up actions and for the necessary quality enhancement measures. The university shall regularly submit the Annual Quality Assurance Report to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council or other accreditation bodies.

(4) The Internal Quality Assurance Committee shall closely work with State level Quality Assurance bodies, if any.

Section 67.Filling temporary vacancies of university teachers.

Where an appointment is to be made on a temporary vacancy of teacher of the university because of resignation, leave or any reason, whatsoever, the appointment shall be made, if the vacancy is for a period of more than one year, on the recommendation of the Selection and Appointment Committee in accordance with the provisions of section 65. The quorum for the selection committee shall be seven.

Section 68.Selection Committee for officers and employees of university.

(1) There shall be a Selection Committee for making recommendations of suitable candidates for appointment to the posts of the Registrar and the Finance and Accounts officer, consisting of the following members, namely :-

(a) Vice-Chancellor as the Chairperson;

(b) Chancellor's nominee from the Board of Management;

(c) two experts having special knowledge in the field related to the post to be filled, who are not connected with the university, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(d) one person belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis) or Nomadic Tribes, or Other Backward Classes, not below the rank of Principal or Professor nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(e) one woman representative not below the rank of Professor, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor;

(f) the Director of Technical Education or his nominee, not below the rank of the Joint Director of Technical Education;

(g) the Registrar as the Member-Secretary.

(2) Posts mentioned in sub-section (1) shall be duly and widely advertised.

(3) The date of the meeting of every selection committee shall be so fixed as to allow a notice of at least fifteen days prior of such meeting, being given to each member; and the particulars of each candidate shall be sent to each member of the selection committee so as to reach him at least seven days before the date of meeting.

(4) In case of appointment to the post referred to in sub-section (1), if, on petition by any person directly affected, or suo motu, the Chancellor, after making or having made such inquiries or obtaining or having obtained such explanations, including explanations from the person whose appointments are likely to be affected, as may be or may have been necessary, made by any authority or officer of the university at any time was not in accordance with the law at that time in force, the Chancellor, may, by order, notwithstanding anything contained in the contract relating to the conditions of service of such person, direct the Vice-Chancellor to terminate his appointment after giving him one month's prior notice or one month's salary in lieu of such notice, and the Vice-Chancellor shall forthwith comply and take steps for a fresh selection to be made. The person whose appointment has been so terminated shall be eligible to apply again for the same post.

(5) Any order made by the Chancellor, under the last preceding sub-section shall be final and a copy of the order shall be served on the person concerned by the Vice-Chancellor within three days from its receipt.

(6) It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chancellor, to ensure that no payment whatsoever is made to any person, by way of salary or allowance, from the funds of the university, for any period after the termination of his services, and any authority or officer authorizing or making any such payment shall be liable to reimburse the amount so paid to the university.

(7) The selection committee and mode of appointments of other officers and employees of the university shall be as prescribed in the Standard Code.

Section 69.Other Committees.

In addition to the committees constituted under this Act, the authorities of the university may appoint committee with suitable terms and reference for any specific task, and such committee shall consist of members of the same authority constituting such a committee and also of such other persons as that authority may nominate.

Section 70.Teaching and Research.

All instructions, teaching, training, research, research collaborations and partnerships, shall normally be conducted within the university in such manner, as may be prescribed by the Statutes.

Section 71.Enrolment of Students.

A person to be enrolled as student of the university shall possess such qualifications and fulfill such conditions, as may be prescribed by the Ordinances.

Section 72.Disciplinary powers and discipline amongst students.

(1) All powers relating to discipline and disciplinary action in relation to the students of the university schools and departments, shall vest in the Vice-Chancellor.

(2) The Vice-Chancellor may, by an order, delegate all or any of his powers under sub-section (1), as he deems fit, to such other officer as he may nominate in that behalf.

(3) The Vice-Chancellor may, in the exercise of his powers, by an order, direct that any student or students be expelled or rusticated for a specified period, or be not admitted to a course or courses of study in the university for a specified period, or be punished with fine, as prescribed by the Statutes, or be debarred from taking an examination or evaluation conducted by the university, for a specified period not exceeding five years or that the result of the student or students concerned in the examination or evaluation in which he or they have appeared, be cancelled:

Provided that, the Vice-Chancellor shall give reasonable opportunity of being heard to the student concerned, if expulsion is for a period of exceeding one year.

(4) Without prejudice to the powers of the Vice-Chancellor and the heads of the departments and centres of the university shall have authority to exercise all such powers over the students in their respective charge as may be necessary for the maintenance of proper discipline.

(5) Provisions as regards discipline and proper conduct for students of the university and the action to be taken against them for breach of discipline or misconduct, shall be as may be prescribed by the Statutes, which shall apply to the students of the university.

(6) The Statutes relating to discipline and proper conduct for students, and the action to be taken against them for breach of discipline or misconduct, shall also be published in the prospectus and on the website of the university and every student shall be informed accordingly.

(7) At the time of admission, every student shall sign a declaration to the effect that he submits himself to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Vice-Chancellor and the other officers and authorities or bodies of the university and shall observe and abide by the Statutes made in that behalf.

Section 73.Degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions.

(1) The Board of Management may institute and confer such degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions, as may be recommended by the Academic Council.

(2) The Board of Management may institute and confer post-doctoral degrees such as Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) and Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) by Research, as may be recommended by the Academic Council.

(3) The Chancellor may, on the recommendation of the Board of Management and the Academic Council, supported by a majority of not less than two-third members of each such authority, present at its meeting, such majority comprising not less than one-half of the members of each such authority, withdraw the degree or diploma or certificate or any other academic distinction permanently or for such period as the Chancellor thinks fit, if such a person is convicted by a court of law for any offence involving moral turpitude or has been found to have sought admission to any degree or diploma or certificate course by fraudulent means or has been found to have obtained such degree or diploma or certificate or any other academic distinction by fraudulent means. No such action under this section shall be taken unless the person concerned is given an opportunity of being heard.

Section 74.Honorary degree.

The Academic Council may consider and recommend to the Board of Management the conferment of an honorary degree or other academic distinction on any person, without requiring him to undergo any test or examination or evaluation, on the ground solely that he, by reason of his eminent position or attainments in any field, is a fit and proper person to receive such degree or other academic distinction, and such recommendation shall be deemed to have been duly passed if supported by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present at the meeting of the Board of Management, being not less than one-half of its total membership:

Provided that, such degree or other academic distinction shall not be conferred without the Vice-Chancellor having obtained the previous approval of the Chancellor:

Provided further that, no such honorary degree or academic distinction shall be awarded within the first five years of the formation of the university.

Section 75.Convocation.

The convocation of the university shall be held at least once during an academic year in the manner prescribed by the Statutes for conferring degrees, post-diplomas, post-graduate diplomas or for any other purpose.

Section 76.Annual financial estimates.

(1) The annual financial estimates (budget) of the university for ensuing financial year shall be prepared by the Finance and Accounts Officer under the direction of the Finance and Accounts Committee, at least two months before the commencement of the financial year.

(2) The Finance and Accounts Officer shall thereafter forward copies of the annual financial estimates (budget) to the Board of Management for its approval and then shall send the same to the Chancellor and the State Government.

(3) The financial year of the university shall be the same as that of the State Government.

Section 77.University funds.

(1) The university shall establish the following funds, namely :-

(a) general fund;

(b) salary fund,-

(i) for all teaching and non-teaching posts created and approved by the State Government;

(ii) for all teaching and non-teaching posts, created by the university separately;

(d) development and programme fund;

(e) contingency fund;

(f) any other fund which, in the opinion of the university, is deemed necessary to establish.

(2) The following shall form part of, or be paid into, the general fund,-

(a) non-salary contribution or grants, received from the State Government or Central Government or University Grants Commission or any other Central or State authority or Central or State body;

(b) all incomes of the university from any source whatsoever, including income from fees, other fees and charges;

(c) any sums borrowed from the banks or any other agency, with the permission of the Board of Management;

(d) sums received from any other source or agency.

(3) The salary fund mentioned in sub-clause (i) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall consist of all amounts received from the State Government for all of its sanctioned posts of both teaching and non-teaching staff, Central Government or University Grants Commission (UGC), or any other Central or State authority or Central or State body, towards full or part payment of the salary and allowances. Amount from this fund shall be utilized only for the purpose mentioned in sub-clause (i) of clause (b) of sub-section (1).

(4) The salary fund mentioned in sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall consist of all amounts, appropriated by the university from its own resources towards full or part payment of the salary and allowances for all teaching and non-teaching posts, created by the university separately. Amount from this fund shall be utilized only for the purpose mentioned in sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (1).

(5) All contributions, income or moneys from trusts, societies, bequests, donations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), endowments, subventions and similar grants shall form part of the trust fund.

(6) (a) The development and programme fund of the university shall consist of all infrastructure development grants received from the State Government, all contributions made by the University Grants Commission for development and research grants received from other funding agencies of the Central Government, United Nations and its affiliates, other international agencies, industry, banks and financial institutions or any person or institution;

(b) no amount from this fund shall be appropriated to any other fund of the university or expended for any other purpose;

(c) the development and programme fund shall be utilized in the manner consistent with the object of the programme and as per guidelines of the funding agency on expenditure and audit, to be granted and approved by the Board of Management.

(7) The university shall have and maintain a contingency fund under a separate head of the university accounts which shall be used only for the purpose of meeting any unforeseen expenditure.

(8) Surplus money at the credit of these funds, including accruals thereto, which cannot immediately or at any early date be applied for the purposes aforesaid shall, from time to time, be deposited in the Nationalized Banks.

Section 78.Annual accounts and audit.

(1) The accounts of the university shall be maintained on the basis and principles of double entry accounting system, and the method of accounting to be followed shall be the mercantile system by following the Account Code as prescribed by the State Government.

(2) The accounts of the university shall be audited at least once every year and in any case within four months of the close of the financial year by the auditors appointed by the Board of Management from amongst the firms of Chartered Accountants whose partners have no interest in any of the authorities or affairs of the university. The university shall comply with the remarks and discrepancies as shown in the audit report in any case within one month of the receipt of such audit report.

(3) The audited accounts shall be published by the university and a copy thereof, together with the copy of the auditor’s report and compliance report shall be submitted to the Chancellor and the State Government and it shall also be submitted for approval before the Board of Management in any case within six months from the close of the financial year.

(4) The State Government shall cause the audited annual accounts of the university, received by it, to be laid before each House of the State Legislature.

(5) The State Government shall provide for conduct of the test audit or full audit of the accounts of the university at regular intervals by the auditors appointed by the State Government, which shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Maharashtra Local Fund Audit Act (XXX of 1930) and the authorities of the university shall be bound to facilitate the same failing which, the provisions of section 7 of that Act shall apply.

Section 79.Annual report.

(1) The Academic Council shall prepare the annual report, with the help of Deans, containing the administrative, academic, research and development and other activities of the university, for each academic year and submit it to the Board of Management for its approval. Such report as approved by the Board of Management shall be submitted to the Chancellor and the State Government, within one year from the conclusion of the academic year.

(2) The State Government shall cause the annual report to be laid before each House of the State Legislature as soon as may be received by it.

Section 80.Authorities and officers responsible for damage.

(1) It shall be the duty of every authority or body and officer of the university including the employees thereof to ensure that the interests of the university are duly safeguarded.

(2) If it is found that any damage or loss has been caused to the university by any action on the part of any authority or body or officer of the university including the employees thereof, not in conformity with the provisions of this Act, Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations, except when done in good faith, or any failure so as to act in conformity thereof, by wilful neglect or default on its or his part, such damage or loss shall be liable to be recovered from the authority or body or the concerned members thereof, jointly or severally, or from the officer concerned, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedure prescribed in the Statutes.

Section 81.Teacher or non-teaching employee of a university not be disqualified.

(1) A teacher or a non-teaching employee of the university not be disqualified for continuing as such teacher or a non-teaching employee merely on the ground that he has been elected or nominated as a member of the Legislative Assembly or of the Legislative Council of the State or of the Parliament.

(2) A teacher or a non-teaching employee of the university elected or nominated as a member of the Legislative Assembly or of the Legislative Council of the State, or of the Parliament, shall be entitled to treat the period of his membership of the Legislative Assembly or of the Legislative Council or of the Parliament as on leave without salary and allowances.

(3) A teacher or a non-teaching employee referred to in sub-section (2) shall also be entitled to count the period of his membership of the Legislative Assembly or of the Legislative Council or of the Parliament for the purposes of pension, seniority and increments.

Section 82.Questions regarding interpretation and disputes regarding constitution of university authority or body, etc.

If any question arises regarding the interpretation of any provision of this Act, or of any Statutes, Ordinances, or Regulations, or rules, or whether a person has been duly appointed or nominated as a member or is entitled to be a member of any authority or body of the university, the matter may, be referred, on petition by any person or body directly affected or suo motu by the Vice-Chancellor through the Board of Management to the Chancellor, who shall after taking such advice as he thinks necessary, decide the question and his decision shall be final:

Provided that, such reference shall be made by the Vice-Chancellor upon a requisition signed by not less than one-fourth members of the Board of Management.

Section 83.Protection of acts and orders.

All acts and orders done or passed in good faith by the university or any of its officers, authorities or bodies, shall subject to the other provisions of this Act, be final; and accordingly, no suit or other legal proceedings shall be instituted against, or maintained, or damages claimed from the university or its officers, authorities or bodies for anything done or passed, or purporting to have been done or passed in good faith and in pursuance of the provisions of this Act and the Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations.

Section 84.Delegation of powers.

Subject to the provisions of this Act and the Statutes, any officer or authority of the university may, by order, delegate his or its powers, except the power to make Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations to any other officer or authority under his or its control, and subject to the condition that the ultimate responsibility for the exercise of the powers so delegated shall continue to vest in the officer or authority delegating them.

Section 85.Acts and proceedings not invalid merely on ground of defect in constitution, vacancies, irregularity in procedure, etc.

No act or proceeding of the Board of Management or the Academic Council or any other authority or body or committee of the university shall be deemed to be invalid at any time merely on the ground that,-

(a) any of the members of any such authority, body or committee are not elected, appointed or nominated or for any other reason are not available to take office at the time of the constitution or to attend any meeting thereof or any person is a member in more than one capacity or there is any other defect in the constitution thereof or there are one or more vacancies in the offices of members thereof;

(b) there is any irregularity in the procedure of any such authority, body or committee not affecting the merits of the matter under consideration, and the validity of such act or proceeding shall not be questioned in any court or before any authority or officer merely on any such ground.

Section 86.Power of State Government to appoint a Commission to cause an inquiry in respect of certain matters connected with university.

(1) The Government may, at any time, after the commencement of this Act, by an order published in the Official Gazette, constitute a Commission consisting of a Chairman and such other members not exceeding five, as the Government may appoint, and such order shall also specify the procedure to be followed by the Commission.

(2) The Commission constituted under sub-section (1) shall inquire into, and make a report on,-

(a) the working of the university with special reference to quality and relevance of courses of studies and instructions;

(b) the financial position of the university;

(c) the suitability of the provisions of this Act or the Statutes, Regulations, Ordinances and rules with a view to bring about improvements in the affairs of the university; and

(d) such other matters as may be referred to it by the Government and make such recommendations to the Government as it thinks fit.

(3) The State Government shall, in every case, give notice to the university of its intention to cause an inquiry to be made and the university shall be entitled to be represented at such inquiry.

(4) The State Government shall communicate to the university its views with reference to the result of such inquiry and may, after ascertaining the opinion of the university thereon, advise the university upon the action to be taken and fix a timeline for taking such action.

(5) The university shall, within the time limit so fixed, report to the State Government, the action taken or proposed to be taken on the advice tendered by it.

(6) If the university does not take any action within the time specified in sub-section (4) or if the action taken by the university is, in the opinion of the Government is not satisfactory, the Government may, after considering any explanation offered or representation made by the university, issue such directions as it may deem fit and the university shall comply with such directions.

Section 87.Appointment of first officers of university.

The first Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, the Finance and Accounts Officer, the Director of Assessment and Evaluation and any other officers required to ensure that the objectives of university are accomplished, shall be appointed by the Government, for a period of one year or until new appointment of officers of the university are made as per the Act, whichever is earlier.

Section 88.Transitory powers of first Vice-Chancellor.

(1) It shall be the duty of the first Vice-Chancellor to make arrangements for constituting the Board of Management and other authorities of the university within six months from the date of commencement of this Act.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Vice-Chancellor may, with the previous approval of the Chancellor and subject to the availability of funds, discharge all or any of the functions of the university for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act and for that purpose may exercise any powers or perform any duties, which by this Act are to be exercised or performed by any authority of the university until such authority comes into existence as provided by this Act.

Section 89.Removal of difficulties.

(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the State Government may, as occasion arises, by an order published in the Official Gazette, do anything, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, which appears to it to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty:

Provided that, no such order shall be made after the expiry of the period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature.