Row over renewal of autonomous status of Maharaja’s College

The authorities of Maharaja’s College in Ernakulam have stated that they submitted an application for an extension of their autonomous status to the Mahatma Gandhi University in 2020. However, the Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) filed an RTI application and found that the college had not applied on the UGC portal for the extension. The college had lost its autonomous status four years ago and was granted autonomy in 2014-15. The college authorities claim they applied for an extension through the proper channel by submitting a request through the university in August 2020. The SUCC chairman blamed the authorities for the lapse and alleged that the college administration is being managed by a few leaders of Left-affiliated organizations who had opposed granting autonomous status to the college.