MERC asks Reliance to buy WPCL power

WPCL had offered to supply 260 MW to Reliance at a levelized tariff of Rs 4.85 per unit for three years in March 2010. The power purchase agreement (PPA) was executed in June. However, Reliance, which needed this power for Mumbai, sought to terminate the PPA in December on grounds of non-execution of fuel supply agreement (FSA) and some deviations sought by WPCL. It offered to pay compensation to WPCL as per law adding that as the plant was not operating the supplier was not incurring any loss.

While WPCL is selling its power at Rs 4.85 per unit to Reliance, MSEDCL is ready to buy power from Koradi at Rs 4.10 per unit. WPCL was also having problems in getting a transmission licence from Mahatransco. It got permission on January 7. WPCL then filed a petition in MERC on January 24 against Reliance.

Consumer representative Ashok Pendse pointed out that Reliance was facing a shortfall of 600 MW in Mumbai that it was meeting by buying power from other companies. If WPCL power was not purchased, the gap would increase to 860 MW. MERC also stated that in consumer interest, Reliance would have to buy the power as the PPA was executed as per central government norms. The Commission also dismissed other contentions of Reliance. It will have to buy 120 MW from April 20 and full quantum of 260 MW from May 1.

Meanwhile, Abhijeet MADC Nagpur Energy Pvt Ltd (AMNEPL), which had executed a 55 MW PPA with Reliance, also sought an approval from MERC. The Commission stated it was examining legal validity of the PPA and until then Reliance should not cancel the PPA.

Nagpur university starting a credit-based system of assessment from June!!

Nagpur university starting a credit-based system of assessment from June. The system will initially be implemented only for those streams that have the semester pattern from the first year.

Pathan said that he had just had a meeting on this topic. "Under the scheme, students will have to gain 75% of their credits from the core subjects, and 25% credits from any elective subject. This will enable a BE student to get his elective credits even from music, or a CA student could get his credits from electronics. It will open up a plethora of opportunities for students," he said.

Pathan added that the UGC and the state government have decided to upgrade universities in this manner. As per the 11th five-year-plan, NU will get Rs 11 crore for development and the first installment of Rs 4 crore has already arrived.

Vice chancellor of Nagpur university SN Pathan on Wednesday instituted a fact-finding committee

SN Pathan on Wednesday instituted a fact-finding committee to look into the presence of alleged gangster Santosh Ambekar at the annual social gathering of varsity's Dr Ambedkar Law College.

University sources told TOI that the fact finding committee will be headed by retired session court judge WG Paunikar with Pravin Bagde, MA Vishwarupe, Sanjay Brahme and advocate Mathur as the other members.

Sources said the committee will inquire into who invited Ambekar, facing Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) charges, to the college gathering Anubandh 2010 held at university's Buty Hall.

Who will be at post of Vice-Chancellor of Nagpur University

The committee which selects the Vice-Chancellors is called ‘search committee’ and is supposed to search for a suitable person for appointment as Vice-Chancellor. The committee, constituted under section 12 of Maharashtra Universities Act, seeks résumé of persons who are suitable for holding the highest position in a university. The entire process is carried out under the instructions of the Chancellor.

Entry of politicians in the field of education has also had its impact on the selection process. Earlier, only academicians of repute were considered for appointment as Vice-Chancellors. In the last two decades, it has become more of a political appointment. Although the political influences were evident during this period, the entire process was being carried out through the office of the Chancellor.

This time, the Maharashtra Government has issued a notification on Saturday inviting details of the persons for appointment as Vice-Chancellor.

Issuance of such a notification itself is against the spirit of selection of the Vice- Chancellor. As the appointing authority is the Chancellor, it is he who interviews the individuals recommended by the screening committee. He has full authority to select one of the persons recommended by the screening committee or even reject all the recommended names.

The government appears to have robbed these powers from the Chancellor and has invited applications from individuals for the V-C’s post. The committee has only one representative of the Higher and Technical Education Department. This nominee influencing the selection process has been made public by issuing the notification.

The notification says that names may be ‘suggested’ for nomination as Vice-Chancellor. As majority of engineering and medical colleges are owned by ministers and influential political persons, the selection of a Vice-Chancellor cannot be said to be done keeping academic interest of the university and the society.

The sources have informed that the Chancellor Mohammad Fazal has called a meeting of the screening committee on December 1. The committee has invited ‘suggestions’ before November 29. The committee is likely to recommend three names to the Chancellor from among whom one will be selected as Vice-Chancellor of Nagpur University.

The selection gains more importance after the exposé of bogus marksheet and degree scandal. The enquiry in the scandal has not yet been completed. It is suspected that several bigwigs are involved in the scandal directly or indirectly.

Nagpur University's 95% students fail in LLB exams !!

Even as the controversy over a large number of students failing in the bachelor of computer applications (BCA) course is yet to die down, another row is likely to hit the Nagpur University. Reason: 95% students have failed to clear the first semester examination of three years and five years bachelor of law (LLB) courses the results of which were announced on Saturday.

The students blamed it on the university saying that radical changes were made in the syllabus and the pattern of examination as was recommended by the Bar Council of Maharashtra. This is the primary cause of poor results, they said. Earlier, there were 20 internal marks and 80 for the theory. But the internal marks were not introduced in the new syllabus. Besides, three new subjects, including law of contract and law of trots, were introduced which added to the students' woes. They claimed that the university conducted an entrance test to appease private colleges for getting students as the bar council had raised the admission criteria to 45% in class XII which resulted in many seats remaining vacant in these institutes.

"The university introduced the syllabus of national law schools (NLS) without considering the fact that it was meant for yearly pattern. Nagpur university has semester system. We got very little time to prepare for the examination after taking admission," an aggrieved student Payal Gaikwad said.

Another student Yusuf Hussein claimed that Nagpur is the only university which implemented in totality the curriculum recommended by the bar council whereas others sought time. "They have even raised the passing marks to 50% in each subject. This is disgusting as many students keen to make a career in law are contemplating withdrawing their admissions," he said.

Principal of GH Raisoni Law School Ashok Yende termed the development as shocking. "The university is depriving students of getting legal education by introducing changes in a hurry. A couple of colleges have zero per cent result which is difficult to believe. In many colleges, a majority of students failed in at least five subjects. These disturbing figures are a testimony to the fact that something is wrong with the new pattern," he said.

Dean of law faculty Ashok Pawde admitted that stopping internal marks might be one of the reasons for poor results and added that the facility might be restored. "We will raise this issue in the faculty meeting. But, frankly speaking, even after awarding 10 grace marks, it would have hardly made a difference as the margin of failure is huge," he said.