DMU still far from being a varsity
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 25 2019: Even though the State Government has been constructing necessary infrastructure, Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) is still quite far from attaining the status of a full fledged university.

DMU was set up after clustering together DM College of Science, DM College of Arts, DM College of Commerce, GP Women's College and LMS Law College.

A Bill pertaining to establishment of DMU was passed by the State Assembly on August 3, 2017 following which the Dhanamanjuri University Act 2017 was enacted.

DMU opened its first academic session in 2018-19.It offers BA, BSc, BCom and BPES courses and in post graduate level, it offers MA, MSc, MPE and LLM courses.

After completion of the first academic session, entrance tests for admission to different under graduate courses in the second academic session had been held.

It is time for counselling but AMSU has banned it citing huge loopholes and shortfalls in the university's set-up and status.

For construction of DMU's infrastructure under RUSA, the Central Government has so far released Rs 24 crore.

Higher and Technical Education Department has deposited the amount in the account of Education (S) engineering wing.

Subsequently, construction works have been going on inside DM Colleges.

Although DMU has been affiliated to the University Grants Commission (UGC), it is yet to be affiliated to the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), sources informed.

Delhi-based AIU looks after courses, syllabi and standards of different universities.

AIU is also the authority for granting recognition to degree/diploma courses opened in universities.

As such, certificates issued by universities not recognised by AIU are invalid.

In case students of any university wishes to go for cultural exchange programme within the country or abroad, the two sides must sign an agreement and the implementing agency for such an agreement is AIU, said the sources.

Apart from not being affiliated to AIU, DMU has neither regular Vice Chancellor nor Registrar.

Since its establishment, Education Commissioner H Deleep Singh has been serving as ex-officio Vice Chancellor of DMU.

Now H Deleep has retired from service but no Education (S) and Education (U) Secretary/Commissioner has been appointed yet.

Commissioner Sumant Singh has been looking after the department but he is yet to return from his one-month leave.

As such, all files related to Education are being sent to Sumant Singh's link Commissioner Nidhi Kesharwani.

But it evokes a serious question how can a link Commissioner discharge duties of DMU's ex-officio Vice Chancellor.

In the absence of a regular Registrar, Dr Nivedita Lairenlakpam has been look after the works of Registrar.

Appointment of regular VC, Registrar and Examination Controller is of paramount importance for DMU is autonomous and it is their duty to appoint necessary teaching and non-teaching staff, said the sources.

However, DMU is yet to appoint Deans, members of both academic council and syndicate and it has not given registration certificates to its students till date.

Rather than opening its first academic session in haste, DMU could have waited until the basic physical and administrative infrastructure are put in place.

On the contrary, the authorities concerned paid more attention to construction of physical infrastructure and overlook other administrative and academic requirements, added the sources.

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