MUHS Revokes Sinhgad Dental College Affiliation Over Regulatory Violations
The Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has officially revoked the affiliation of Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, citing severe regulatory violations and persistent non-compliance with academic standards. This decisive action follows multiple inspections that uncovered critical deficiencies in the institution's infrastructure, teaching arrangements, and adherence to established norms.
Inspection Findings and Regulatory Failures
Comprehensive inspections conducted by MUHS authorities revealed significant shortcomings across several key areas. The college was found lacking in essential infrastructure required for dental education, with inadequate facilities compromising the learning environment. Teaching arrangements were also deemed insufficient, failing to meet the university's rigorous academic requirements.
Despite receiving earlier warnings and being granted specific timelines for corrective action, the college failed to address these deficiencies satisfactorily. MUHS officials stated that the persistent nature of these violations left them with no alternative but to take this stringent measure.
Effective Date and Student Impact
The revocation order, issued by MUHS Registrar Rajendra Bangal on Friday, will take effect from the academic year 2026-27. This means Sinhgad Dental College will no longer be permitted to admit new students to its undergraduate or postgraduate dental programmes starting from that academic session.
However, current students enrolled at the institution will not face academic disruption. MUHS has arranged for their transfer to other private dental colleges across Maharashtra, ensuring their educational continuity remains unaffected by this administrative decision.
Staff Salary Issues and Additional Concerns
The regulatory violations extend beyond academic infrastructure to include serious administrative failures. Reports indicate that teaching and non-teaching staff members at the college have faced significant salary payment issues.
In a particularly concerning incident, staff members who received their salaries for the period from August to November 2018 were later compelled to return these payments through cheques, with promises of timely reimbursement that never materialized. Furthermore, employees have reportedly not received their salaries since 2024, creating substantial financial hardship.
MUHS had received multiple complaints regarding these unpaid wages and granted the institution additional time to resolve the matter. With no satisfactory progress reported, the university proceeded with the affiliation revocation decision.
Conditions for Future Reconsideration
The university order has established clear conditions that must be met before any reconsideration of affiliation can occur. Sinhgad Dental College is required to:
- Pay all outstanding salaries to both teaching and non-teaching staff members
- Submit a comprehensive report documenting these payments
- Address all previously identified infrastructure and academic deficiencies
Only after fulfilling these requirements can the college submit a proposal for affiliation renewal. MUHS has clarified that any such proposal will undergo thorough inspection before a decision is made regarding potential reinstatement.
This action by MUHS underscores the university's commitment to maintaining educational standards and ensuring regulatory compliance across affiliated institutions. The decision serves as a strong message to other health science colleges about the importance of adhering to established norms and addressing deficiencies promptly when identified.
