Principals of colleges affiliated to University of Pune (UoP) won’t be heading for the hills in a hurry. The varsity’s plan of holding a three-day workshop for them at Mahabaleshwar has been put on ice. This after MiD DAY reported on January 28 (‘Why Mahabaleshwar and not UoP campus?’), how certain professors had questioned the need for spending Rs 18 lakh on the conference, maintaining that the varsity and its colleges have several spacious halls and auditoriums that are adequate for the purpose. Incidentally, Mahabaleshwar doesn’t come under UoP’s jurisdiction.

“Due to various causes we have decided to postpone the workshop, which was supposed to be held between February 15 and 17 at Mahabaleshwar,” said Dr WN Gade, vice-chancellor of UoP. When asked about the precise reasons behind the decision, he said, “The ongoing professors’ agitation was a key consideration. Besides, we’ve now entered the exam period. So, we have decided to cancel the workshop for now.”