**Savitribai Phule Pune University Senate Meeting Highlights — Calls for Forensic Audit Amid NIRF Ranking Decline**
The biennial senate meeting of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), held on September 30 and October 1 at the Sant Dnyaneshwar Hall on the university campus, witnessed intense discussions and overwhelming support for a forensic audit of the university’s finances. The senators gathered to address budgetary finances, ratify key resolutions, and review the general functioning of university administration.
The meeting was presided over by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Suresh Gosavi, along with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr. Parag Kalkar and Acting Registrar Jyoti Bakhre. A prime topic was the university’s drastic fall in the Ministry of Education’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), plummeting from 21st in 2024 to 91st in the latest report.
### Concerns Over Declining NIRF Ranking
The first day opened with a concerned speech by the Vice-Chancellor regarding SPPU’s declining NIRF ranking. The session’s second half turned heated, featuring a robust debate between the management council and senate members.
Senator Vinayak Ambekar accused the Head of the Sports Department and the former Vice-Chancellor of corruption, misappropriation of funds, and financial improprieties. His allegations catalyzed demands for a forensic audit and for holding those responsible accountable.
### Allegations of Corruption Against Former VC
Ambekar claimed the former VC had arbitrarily increased spending limits on revenue and capital expenditures by repeatedly promulgating ordinances between 2017 and 2022 without obtaining sanction from either the senate or management council.
Under the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, a VC can issue ordinances only to address temporary emergencies, which must subsequently be presented to the management council and approved by the Governor within six months to become statutes. Ambekar argued that the former VC circumvented these requirements by re-promulgating ordinances every six months without council approval, thereby undermining statutory authority.
He further cited the Supreme Court’s stance declaring that re-promulgation of ordinances without legislative assembly passage is unconstitutional.
### Evidence of Procurement Fraud
To substantiate financial improprieties, Ambekar referenced a CAG audit report highlighting procurement fraud involving inflated costs of sporting equipment for a shooting range, purchases for a Data Analytics Centre for the Ministry of Tribal Development, UPS backups, air conditioning units, and gas suppression systems.
### VC Commits to Forensic Audit
Responding to mounting pressure from senate members, Vice-Chancellor Gosavi assured the house in writing that a forensic audit of the university’s finances will be conducted and the report submitted by March 31, 2026.
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### Day Two: Affiliated Colleges, Syllabi and Student Welfare
The second day commenced with a question-and-answer session between senate members and the management council.
Senator Amol Dholap raised concerns about discrepancies in the figures of university-affiliated colleges. Pro-VC Kalkar replied that the university is implementing software systems to regularise these inconsistencies. A physical verification team is also cross-checking college details to identify and eliminate unregulated institutions, with the process still ongoing.
### Non-Finalisation of Co-Curricular Course Syllabi
Dr. Ramesh Gaikwad highlighted delays in finalising syllabi for a two-credit basket of 23 co-curricular subjects introduced under the National Education Policy 2020.
Management council member Nitin Ghorpade responded that syllabus finalisation is underway. Students may choose two subjects from the basket, but the semester-wise policy for selecting courses is yet to be decided. Gaikwad advocated reducing the basket to 5–6 subjects for better focus.
### Student Financial Assistance
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the university has allocated ₹2 crore to support financially needy students through various schemes. However, he emphasised the importance of mapping and identifying eligible students before disbursing funds.
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### Audit Report for FY 2024–2025
In the post-lunch session, Ghorpade read out the Audit Report from constitutional auditors for the financial year 2024–2025. The university recorded a surplus of ₹20.93 lakh, with a total income of ₹452.55 crore and expenditure of ₹452.34 crore. Notably, interest income from investments rose by ₹13 crore during this period.
### Discussion on Use of University Press
Resolutions were tabled concerning budget proposals and optimising university assets, including queries about the decline in utilization of the University Press, as most printing is now outsourced to university-approved third parties.
Vice-Chancellor Gosavi respectfully opposed any proposal to relinquish the Press, describing it as a sovereign asset. He announced the imminent publication and release of the university-authored Marathi book on Quantum Computing by the Press. Additionally, he shared that the long-awaited Master’s in Finance program, suggested in 2015, is slated to launch next year at the Interdisciplinary School of Science.
### Addressing Research and Sports Concerns
Senator Karishma Pardeshi raised the issue of delays in fixing research topics and appointing guides for research fellows. Pro-VC Kalkar explained that the time frame for finalising research topics has been reduced significantly from two years to 90 days.
Senator Adwait Bamboli proposed opening university sports infrastructure to expert coaches and external institutions for enhanced student training. Kalkar reported that an MoU with Deccan Gymkhana has been signed to establish SPPU’s Sports Academy, launching January next year.
Another senate member, Krishna Bandalkar, urged parity between sports and cultural courses compared with other departmental programs, criticizing the current neglect of students enrolled in these fields. VC Gosavi assured support, citing a ₹2 lakh insurance coverage for students injured during sporting activities.
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### Moving Forward: Academic Overhaul and Student-Centred Initiatives
The senate sessions unfolded amid ongoing initiatives to elevate the university’s academic and research standards. VC Gosavi highlighted the critical need to overhaul university operations and announced a forthcoming workshop involving academic members, management council representatives, and senate members. The objective is to analyse factors contributing to the university’s NIRF rank decline and to submit recommendations in the next senate meeting.
In a positive step, senate members debated and approved various student-centred proposals, including support for a low-cost insurance plan for all registered students and resolutions aimed at reinstating short- and long-term research funding.
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The two-day SPPU senate meeting concluded with firm commitments to financial transparency, academic improvements, and enhanced student welfare, setting the stage for institutional reforms and renewed focus on the university’s reputation and governance.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/pune-university-senate-meeting-sees-heated-debate-members-demand-forensic-audit-amid-nirf-rank-drop