The workshop comes in the wake of the Pratima Umarji Committee report’s recommendations on university electoral reforms. The hour-long workshop presided by Vice-Chancellor Vijay Khole and in charge registrar K Venkatramani, was attended by 20 principals of colleges in Mumbai, Thane and adjoining areas.

The focus of the workshop was to impart procedural knowledge to principals who endorse the forms of the approved teachers enlisted as voters. The university is updating its voters’ list as per the January 2007 order of the Bombay High Court.

According to Dr Khole, the workshop will help as the senate elections from the teacher’s constituency has been scheduled for July 15 this year. “Our objective is to conduct elections in a fair manner. Imparting knowledge regarding rules and regulations was one of key the recommendations of the Umarji Committee report and hence the workshop,” said Dr Khole, who was, however, disappointed with the low turnout of the principals.

Professor G B Vishe, principal of Dyansadhana College at Thane, said the workshop focused on enlisting forms for voters as it forms the basis on which the voter's list is made. Dr Ajij Pathan, the principal of Sant Rawool Maharaj College at Kudal in Sindhudurg district, said the workshop addressed issues concerning the elections procedure and the role of the principal.

In July 2006, the Chancellor had set aside the election of 17 teachers to the senate-for the first time in the university’s history-on the ground that the university had made illegal changes to the voters’ list on the eve of the polls in September 2005.

On the recommendations of the Chancellor (Governor) S M Krishna, the state had set up a committee to inquire into senate elections fiasco. Umarji, a former IAS officer, submitted an in-depth report that made several recommendations. Uamrji had suggested seminars and workshops on rules of natural justice not just for the staff of the election cell but all those concerned with the election process.