Nagpur: Angry members on Tuesday forced Nagpur University to adjourn the Senate meeting that was scheduled online. The members were protesting since last week on NU’s plans for conducting online meeting stating they had hordes of issues to discuss including the MCQ examination fiasco and subsequent harassment of students, which wasn’t possible in online meeting.
Newly appointed pro-vice chancellor Sanjay Dudhe said about 50 members had arrived at NU’s new administrative complex near Amravati Road with a demand to conduct an offline meeting.
“Now, the meeting is adjourned till November 18, as a 15-day gap is required for conducting another meeting as per rules. No official work could be taken up today in view of members’ demand. Only congratulatory proposals of VC Subhash Chaudhari and me were taken up. International para power lifting player Vijay Munishwar, also the Senate member, was hailed for receiving the prestigious Dronacharya award from Government of India,” he said.
Last week, a delegation of members led by Vishnu Changde, Manmohan Bajpayee and others had met the VC after receiving agenda for the online meeting and requested him to hold it offline. However, the VC expressed inability stating orders in this regard were issued by chancellor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and he had no powers to change them. The members then appealed to the VC to mail a letter to him on their request. The chancellor, however, didn't reply to VC’s letter after which he decided to hold the online meeting.
On Tuesday, about 50 members stormed the NU complex and sat inside the Senate hall. They logged in at the usual time, but due to poor connectivity, they came out and attended the initial session from the building’s parking lot using their mobiles. Changde then submitted a proposal to adjourn the meeting and request the chancellor to allow the university to conduct regular meetings.
The proposal was endorsed by a majority of members, including senior ones like Baban Taywade and Rajesh Bhoyar. It was then decided to adjourn the meeting till November 18 and hold a regular one on that day at NU’s old administrative office at Maharajbagh square.
“After the meeting, we all met the VC and told him that if assembly sessions and civic body meetings can be held regularly, why NU can’t conduct its events offline. We will follow the Covid-19 protocol and take safety precautions, but such important meetings must be held as per regular format. The meeting can also be held in blended mode with outstation members joining online,” Changde told TOI.
Explaining the drawbacks of online meetings, another member said, all usually speak over each other and no one could listen to what others were saying. “Moreover, there are perennial issues like poor connectivity. Such meetings get over in just about an hour and good topics that need immediate attention from the administration are put on the backburner,” he said.