The Maharashtra government has approved 37 new colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai of which 15 will offer courses in law despite opposition from Mumbai University administration.

 

These colleges, which will offer three- and five-year LLB courses, will be  located in suburban  Bhandup, Borivli, Nalasopara, and Kalyan township, as well as Mahad and Ratnagiri districts.

 

Mumbai University had received 22 proposals for law colleges all of which were rejected by the management council. However, the  Maharashtra State Commission for Higher Education and Development (MAHED), the top body for college approvals in the state, decided to clear 15 of the rejected proposals.

 

MU had vetoed new law colleges as it is hard pressed to manage paper assessment and result declaration at the existing 70 plus institutes under its jurisdiction. Most of the law colleges lack adequate teaching staff, including principals.

 

The state higher and technical education department also intends to permit  more than 300 institutions across Maharashtra to start new colleges on a permanent unaided basis for undergraduate courses in humanities, sciences, commerce, data science, biotechnology, information technology, accounting and finance. 

 

These new colleges can be started from the 2024-25 academic year, provided they fulfill the requisite  terms and conditions and will be given University affiliation on receipt of a compliance report.

 

SNDT Women’s University has been permitted to affiliate with colleges in districts like Buldhana, Gondia, and Hingoli and will open the maximum number of colleges ( as many as 82) .

 

Savitribai Phule Pune University will see the second largest expansion with 60 new colleges  under its jurisdiction.