Pune: MUHS to Cancel Affiliation of Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital from 2026–27
Pune: MUHS Cancels Affiliation Of Sinhgad Dental College
New admissions to stop; existing students to be shifted as university cites repeated violations and unpaid staff salaries
The Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has cancelled the affiliation of Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital in Pune after finding persistent violations of academic, administrative, and regulatory standards. The decision will come into effect from the 2026–27 academic year, meaning the institution will no longer be allowed to admit students to its undergraduate or postgraduate dental programmes.
The university clarified that students currently enrolled at the college will not face academic loss. MUHS has directed that these students be permanently transferred to other private dental colleges across Maharashtra. The entire transfer process will be conducted through the university to ensure continuity of education and compliance with norms.
According to the university’s findings, multiple inspections carried out over a period of time revealed serious shortcomings at the institution. These included deficiencies in infrastructure, teaching arrangements, and adherence to regulatory requirements. MUHS stated that the college had been given repeated warnings and sufficient time to correct the lapses, but the required improvements were not made.
The issue of unpaid salaries to staff members also played a key role in the decision. It emerged that 78 teaching and non-teaching employees have not received their salaries since 2024. Complaints regarding the non-payment of wages were brought to the notice of the university, following which the institution was asked to clear outstanding dues and submit a compliance report.
While the college reportedly assured that payments would be settled, the university found no satisfactory progress on the matter. MUHS noted that such prolonged non-payment of salaries affected academic functioning and staff morale, directly impacting the quality of education imparted to students.
In its order, the university made it clear that the college must first clear all pending salary dues and submit a detailed report before it can apply again for renewal of affiliation. Any future proposal for reinstatement will be examined thoroughly, and a decision will be taken only after verifying full compliance with university and regulatory norms.
The Academic Council of MUHS had discussed the matter in a meeting held earlier this month, where the final decision to cancel the affiliation was taken. The order was formally issued by the Registrar, marking one of the more stringent actions by the university in recent years to enforce academic standards and accountability among affiliated institutions.
The move is expected to send a strong signal to health science colleges across the state regarding adherence to academic quality, staff welfare, and regulatory compliance. For students and parents, MUHS has reiterated that safeguarding academic interests remains its priority, and all necessary steps will be taken to ensure smooth transfers without disruption to studies.
