Examiners call off stir, resume work

MUMBAI, May 22: Mumbai University examiners on Wednesday withdrew their agitation and decided to continue with the answer-paper assessment,...

MUMBAI, May 22: Mumbai University examiners on Wednesday withdrew their agitation and decided to continue with the answer-paper assessment, after an agreement was reached between the varsity officials and the Bombay University and College Teachers’ Union (BUCTU).

Speaking to Express Newsline the General Secretary of BUCTU, Dr S M Paranjape, said: “The pro-vice chancellor Dr Naresh Chandra, representative of the moderators Prof MKC Achari and myself signed an agreement late on Wednesday night in order to resolve the crisis.”

Reportedly, the university has agreed in principle to increase the overall remunerations paid to the moderators and examiners, as was demanded by them last year. “BUCTU has proposed an increase in the remuneration for paper assessed from Rs 5 to Rs 8; and for moderators from Rs 5 to Rs 12,” Dr S M Paranjape informed.

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Adding that this agreement concerns the examiners of all the faculties, Paranjape said the university will bring out a paper within a month on the finances of examination work; and within six months this will be placed before the various statutory bodies for consideration.

“However, the vice-chancellor will place before the university finance committee our demand for 20 per cent hike in the remunerations within two months from now,” stated the BUCTU representative.

The problem relating to the outstation examiners has also been resolved and it has been decided to pay them Rs 130 per day, per head (Rs 80 as the halting charge and Rs 50 as special charge). The project allowance of the city examiners will also reportedly increase from the Rs 50 at present to Rs 75.