Nagpur: Nagpur University (NU) is making ambitious plans to make the occasion of conferring doctor of law (LLD) degree on Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Bobde, a memorable one.
The administration, under vice-chancellor Subhash Chaudhari, is planning to merge the special convocation for bestowing the prestigious degree on the CJI along with a regular one, probably in mid-April. The administration also plans to get Constitution Park — coming up at NU’s Dr Ambedkar Law College — inaugurated by the CJI.
For all these events, however, the NU administration needs a formal approval from its Senate.
“Since the regular Senate meeting will be held in February last week, we’re contemplating conducting an emergency one on this subject shortly. Else, the event would get delayed. We will discuss suitable dates with our officials,” Chaudhari told TOI.
Former registrar Neeraj Khaty, who accompanied the VC, said they would first talk to the state public works department (PWD) about the completion date of the Constitution Park. “Only after their confirmation will the convocation date be finalized and tabled before the Senate for approval. We want the state-of-the-art monument to be inaugurated by the top judicial officer of the nation,” he said.
Management council member Vishnu Changde, who had first raised the issue of awarding LLD to the CJI, said the administration needed to expedite the process as justice Bobde’s tenure would come to an end on April 23. “Ideally, the honorary degree should be bestowed on him before he superannuates from the post for which he was being felicitated. NU administration should take this into consideration and expedite its decision-making process. It would be a big honour for the entire university to felicitate such a legal luminary,” he said.
Other NU statutory members disclosed to TOI that earlier it was decided to confer Doctor of Literature (DLitt) on justice Bobde. But when old records were checked, it came to fore that former CJI Mohammed Hidyatullah was also honoured by NU with an LLD degree in the past, and accordingly, the nomenclature was changed.
“The students, too, would be delighted to receive their degrees along with justice Bobde, who would be bestowed with an honorary degree. We will overwhelmingly support any such NU proposal, if tabled. The NU administration needs to act fast and cut the red tape for holding the convocation before CJI’s retirement,” the members said.
On NU’s wish list
Merging regular & special convocations to fete CJI
Inauguration of Constitution Park from his hands
Students & CJI to be conferred degrees in same event
Inviting legal luminaries & big dignitaries for event