Mumbai: Maharashtra govt is set to amend the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (DBATU) Act, allowing affiliated colleges to leave the university and seek affiliation with another institution based on geographical location or return to their parent university.The proposed change marks a shift from the original vision for DBATU in Lonere, Raigad, as Maharashtra’s sole public university dedicated to technical education.Set up in 1989, DBATU was made the umbrella university for all affiliating technical colleges in 2014 through an amendment to the Act. And since 2017-18, affiliation with DBATU has been mandatory for all newly established technical colleges in the state offering engineering, pharmacy, management and architecture courses. It was optional for colleges established before 2017-18.Following repeated complaints from stakeholders over the conduct of examinations, delayed results and inadequate manpower, the state is planning to amend the DBATU Act to remove the mandatory affiliation clause for new colleges, allowing them to affiliate with universities based on their geographical location. The existing ones will also be given a choice if they wish to leave.The amendment allowing colleges to de-affiliate is a first for any public university in the state.The amendment bill, expected to be tabled during the upcoming winter session, will allow new engineering, pharmacy and MBA colleges from Mumbai, for instance, to seek affiliation with Mumbai University.The matter was brought up for discussion in the assembly on multiple occasions in the past. “Since 2017, we have been giving approval to new technical colleges only under DBATU. But there have been complaints for the last two years and political representatives have been seeking provision to de-affiliate, and therefore, we are planning to give them an option and bring in the amendment bill in the winter session,” said higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil during a media interaction. However, with the reforms taken up in the examination section and changes in the administration, the govt is confident about retaining most colleges.DBATU currently has 437 affiliated colleges across the state, including 22 in Mumbai. The highest numbers of affiliated colleges are in Nashik and Pune. A majority of the colleges affiliated to DBATU are pharmacy colleges, which mushroomed post-Covid.A principal of a college affiliated to DBATU cited the conduct of examinations, persistent delay in the announcement of results and marksheet issuance as major problems for the students from the technological university.This year, too, the situation was similar. The vice-chancellor, Prof Karbhari Kale, stepped down in March amid concern over delayed results. The govt then appointed Prof Rajanish Kamat as the acting VC. It also took up the task of announcing results on a war footing.Officials claimed that over 90% of the results of exams conducted in the summer session have already been announced. The idea is to focus on building the university as a research centre, added the officials.
