Long-delayed MU senate polls & their significance

A deep dive ahead of the senate elections for Graduate Constituency of Mumbai University on September 24

The Bombay High Court, in an urgent hearing on Saturday, directed that the senate elections Constituency of the University of Mumbai (MU) be held on September 24 for the Graduate A bench comprising Justices AS Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil temporarily stayed the Maharashtra government's September 19 directive, which had postponed the polls.

Following the government's circular, MU had also indefinitely postponed the polls on September 22. These longpending senate elections, meant to fill 10 seats representing the university's registered graduates, were originally scheduled for September 13, 2023.

However, the elections were delayed after the government called for an inquiry into alleged duplicate entries on the electoral rolls. This is the second time the government intervention would have postponed the elections.

Here's an explainer on the long-delayed polls and their significance:

Q. What is senate?

A. Senates are the top statutory bodies at non-agriculture state universities in Maharashtra, such as the MU.

Among the two key functions of the body are approving their respective respective varsity's annual budget and five-yearly and annual perspective plans, which provide for new colleges and courses under the university.