Gadchiroli June 10 (District Correspondent) A question mark has arised on the very appointment of the Vice Chancellor and Pro VC of the Gondwana University as a former Dean of the Gondwana University has filed a PIL in the Nagpur Bench of Mumbai High Court challenging the very appointment and legality of the Vice Chancellor and Pro VC of the Gondwana University and seeking cancellation of these appointments. Quite a sensation has prevailed in the academic circles of the district over the issue.
Dr. Suresh Rewatkar, former Dean of the Science and Technology Department of the Gondwana University has submitted in his petition that the Scrutiny Committee constituted for the appointment of the Vice Chancellor Dr. Prashant Bokare was illegal and invalid. Similarly, the period of Bokare’s PhD. And experience also is confusing.
According to the petition, the candidate applying form the post of the vice chancellor should have at least direct teaching experience of 10 years as a Lecturer as per the norms of the university Grants Commission (UGC). Similarly for the grant of Professor’s rank, completion of 3 years after PhD. Is required.
However, Dr. Bokare got his PhD from Guwahati in the year 2014. To become a professor, he needed the time up to 2017 while for becoming eligible for the post of vice Chancellor, he should have an experience of 10 years. That means Dr. Bokare could complete 10 years’ experience only in the year 2027. Dr. Bokare, however, was appointed as the vice Chancellor in the year 2021 itself after being accepted by the Scrutiny Committee, it has been pointed out in the petition.
The petition has also questioned the validity of the Scrutiny Committee that was constituted for the appointment of the VC. As per rules, there was no any representative of the UGC in this Committee. Besides this, the representatives of the Management Council and Academic Council should be from the national level reputed institutes. The institute of Dr. Himanshu Roy, one of the members of the Scrutiny committee is not the national level institute, hence his appointment as the member of this committee done by the then VC also was wrong, pointed out the petition further.
The appointment of Dr. Shriram Kawle as the Pro VC of the Gondwana university is also illegal, it has been claimed by the petitioner. For the post of Pro VC, candidate should have the qualification of Professor which Dr. Kawle did not have as he was the Principal of the Degree College. He was having the rank of Associate Professor and his academic level was 13-A, not the level of Professor, it has been pointed out.
When asked to comment on the issue, Dr. Bokare said he will face whatever the legal process is. Pro VC Dr. Kawle said his appointment was made as per the then prevailing rules. However, I will accept whatever the court judgement is delivered in the case.
