HC stays joint director’s order against Yeole

Nagpur: In some relief to Nagpur University pro vice-chancellor (PVC) Pramod Yeole, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court granted a stay on Maharashtra government’s findings that his appointment for the top post was ‘not according to the norms’. A division bench, comprising justices Ravi Deshpande and Vinay Joshi, has kept the case for a final hearing next week.
The findings were recorded by former joint director of higher education in Nagpur, Anjali Rahatgaonkar, in her order of September 14, 2016, revealing that Yeole’s second appointment as assistant professor in the Institute of Pharmaceutical Studies and Research (IPER), Wardha was not made as per norms of apex bodies like UGC and AICTE. Subsequently, all his higher posts, including principal and even the pro-VC were ‘illegal’ by that logic, she had said.
As a result, the government had refused to grant him the salary as per that post, which the pro-VC had challenged.
Her report was first published by TOI on September 16, 2016, after which the pro-VC knocked judiciary’s doors through counsel Bhanudas Kulkarni. He contended that he should get higher pay package in the bracket of Rs69,560 (+Rs10,000), instead of Rs37,400-Rs 67,000 (+Rs10,000), offered by the department.
The startling facts about Yeole not meeting the basic eligibility criteria were revealed in detail in the department’s order where he was found to be lacking in experience required for becoming an assistant professor and a principal. The facts came to fore after his entire service record was scrutinized, since he joined the college as an ad hoc lecturer in 1992.
Later, former NU pharmaceutical sciences department head Naresh Gaikwad filed another plea in HC through counsel Firdos Mirza challenging Yeole’s appointment as pro-VC. He contended that chancellor Ch Vidyasagar Rao failed to take cognisance of joint director’s report which ruled that Yeole’s appointment was ‘not as per norms’. He sought directives to chancellor for declaring Yeole’s appoint as illegal and recovery of salaries, perks and wages offered to him.
The joint director conducted Yeole’s hearing on August 9, 2016, on these points for presenting the facts. It was found that no service record of his ad hoc appointment was available with him, or with his college management. It was made clear to him that since there was a break in his service after working as an ad hoc teacher, the earlier period couldn’t be considered as a part of his relevant work experience.
While appointing Yeole as an assistant professor on August 31, 1993, the college failed to apply the roster for reserved posts. Moreover, there was no government nominee in the interview panel which appointed him, thus all norms were flouted during his appointment. Though the college failed to submit documents regarding regularizing his services as assistant professor, NU granted him teachers’ approval, Rahatgaonkar had mentioned.