The Maharashtra government has appointed administrators to seven colleges run by the Sinhgad Technical Education Society in Pune after the Bombay High Court directed action over long-pending salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff. The decision places the institutions under the administrative control of senior higher and technical education officials for three years.
The appointments were announced through circulars issued by Higher Education Director Dr Shailendra Deolankar and Technical Education Director Dr Pramod Naik. The Pune divisional joint director of higher education and the divisional joint director of technical education have been given responsibility as administrators, according to the report published by Loksatta.
The action follows petitions filed before the High Court regarding unpaid salaries. Employees of the Sinhgad Technical Education Society have reportedly been protesting over salary arrears that have continued for several years, along with alleged irregularities in the management of the institution.
The petition also brought to the court’s attention the claim that more than 13 employees had died by suicide because of financial distress caused by non-payment of salaries. The claim is part of the petition cited in the report. The supplied report does not provide details of the court order, the total amount of salary arrears or the court’s findings on the allegation.
The administrators have been appointed under Section 3(1) of the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Management) Act, 1976. The colleges covered by the order are Sinhgad Law College in Ambegaon, Shrimati Kashibai Navale College of Education in Kusgaon, Sinhgad Arts and Commerce College in Narhe, Nivrutti Babaji Navale College of Commerce and Science in Kusgaon, Sinhgad Commerce College in Kondhwa, Shrimati Kashibai Navale College of Commerce in Erandwane and Sinhgad Science College in Ambegaon.
The appointment gives the state education machinery a direct administrative role in the functioning of the seven colleges. The Pune divisional higher education joint director has been authorised to exercise the powers of administrator, while the technical education department will oversee institutions falling under its jurisdiction.
The government action places the management of staff payments and institutional administration under official supervision, but the report does not specify the timetable for clearing salary arrears, the financial measures proposed for the colleges or any changes to academic operations. Further steps are expected to follow the administrators’ appointment and the directions issued under the High Court proceedings.
