Explain ban on Mishra’s entry in NU: Guv to VC

Nagpur: Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has asked Nagpur University (NU) vice chancellor SP Kane to explain under what provisions of Maharashtra Public Universities Act has he banned entry of former chairman of Mass Communication Board Sunil Mishra onto university premises.
In a letter dated December 28, 2018, governor’s secretary BVG Reddy sought a clarification within a week. “Under which provision of the Act/Rule/Statute, the order dated May 23, 2018, was issued by the university; What are the restrictions imposed on Shri Mishra by declaring him as “persona non grata”, and the legal provisions for doing so?” reads the letter.

In an unprecedented move, the management council had empowered the VC to act against Mishra, who was facing several inquiries regarding alleged scholarship scam and misleading the university. The council had cited threat from Mishra to inquiry members and destruction of evidence preserved in university records to prohibit his entry on all NU properties till the investigations are completed.

As per minutes of the council meeting, NU had not cited any rule or provision while issuing the notification.

In his petition to governor, Mishra said, “The petitioner has been declared persona non grata without following principles of natural justice, and without having any power to do so under the Act, ordinance, statute or regulation.”

“The order even fails to state that it (order) is in exercise of power under section 12(5) of Maharashtra Public Universities Act. The failure to exercise the special powers is reason that the respondents do not have any such power, as the university is a public institution open to public without discrimination of caste, creed or colour,” the petition reads.

VC Kane is silent on the issue and his reply to the chancellor. He refused to comment on TOI’s query regarding the provision or rule used by him to ban Mishra’s entry.

Mishra said no university across the country has ever taken such a drastic decision. “Even people facing sedition charges in JNU were never barred from entering campus,” he said.

NU insiders claimed that the VC was called to Raj Bhavan regarding the issue recently. On January 30, NU had to put off the management council meeting after Kane rushed to Mumbai for a meeting. When asked about the meeting, Kane said, “It was confidential.”