The Mumbai High Court has allowed petitioners challenging the appointment of Mumbai University Vice Chancellor, Dr Rajan Welukar. The petition has been allowed to seek a clarification from the chief justice on whether the court should hear their petitions afresh or restrict it to just a single question on his qualifications.
A bench comprising of Justices P V Hardas and A S Gadkari heard a reference by a bench headed by the CJ on whether Welukar fulfils an essential criteria-with regard to post PhD publication of five research articles in international journals, which are referred for studies in higher education.
Two PILs were filed by Nitin Deshpande and V G Patil and a petition by A D Sawant, a contender.
Patil's advocate Pankaj Kowli tried to submit additional grounds for challenge, which was objected to by advocate general Darius Khambata and Welukar's senior counsel Rafiq Dada saying the reference is limited.
Kowli argued that there is a need for clarification of the May 2012 order, by which the reference was made, whether the new bench should hear only the points referred to or all points in the petition and new points of facts sought to be raised now in respect of Welukar's qualifications.
The new points are that Welukar's first appointment was on September 7, 1985, while he represented in his CV that he is working since 1983 without specifying the date of appointment.
"In view of this, he does not have essential experience of 15 years of teaching," argued Kowli.
He also argued that Welukar also does not hold the rank of a professor which is a qualifying criteria. Also, that as his appointment as assistant lecturer/teacher was not made through Maharashtra Public Service Commission and not approved by the VC under Maharashtra Universities Act, he could not be considered for promotion, reportedTimes of India.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/hc-allows-petition-challenging-mumbai-university-vc%E2%80%99s-appointment/16220
0 comments:
Post a Comment