Nagpur University (NU) has officially retracted a contentious directive that permitted long-pending PhD scholars to submit their research theses. The university administration was forced to reverse its decision following intense opposition and fiery debates during a recent Senate meeting.
Senate Revolt Forces University U-Turn
The controversy began when the university, acting on an earlier Senate decision, issued a circular in November 2025. This directive, numbered 33/2025 and titled "Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of PhD Degree, Directions, 2025," offered a final window for old PhD candidates to submit their theses. However, this move backfired spectacularly, triggering sharp criticism from within the university's own governing body.
Senate members launched a fierce attack on the directive, labeling it a blatant violation of established University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. They alleged the rule was designed to provide undue advantage to a specific group of students, potentially compromising the institution's academic integrity.
Key Objections and Heated Debate
The revolt was spearheaded by Senate member Manmohan Bajpai, who was the first to formally object. He wrote to the university administration, clearly stating that the directive contravened UGC norms. When his initial representation was ignored, he escalated the issue during the Senate meeting held on December 5.
The debate grew heated, with senior member RG Bhoyar adopting an aggressive stance. Bhoyar issued a stern warning, threatening to take the matter to the Chancellor, the Governor of Maharashtra, if the directive was not immediately revoked. Other members joined the chorus, demanding an instant withdrawal. They argued that such a decision could severely damage the university's academic credibility and set a harmful precedent for future generations of scholars.
Directive Scrapped, 22 Theses Submitted in Interim
Faced with overwhelming pressure and consensus in the Senate, the university administration had no choice but to capitulate. In a circular issued on Wednesday following the December 5 meeting, the university formally declared that the November 4 directive "will no longer remain in force."
The administration also revealed a key detail: during the period when the controversial rule was active, 22 old PhD scholars managed to submit their theses. The university acknowledged that some of these research submissions were over six years old, highlighting the extent of the backlog the directive aimed to address.
This episode underscores the ongoing tension between administrative flexibility and regulatory compliance in Indian higher education. While the intent to help longstanding scholars may have been well-meaning, the method faced severe scrutiny for potentially undermining standardized national norms set by the UGC.
