NU VC tenders apology to HC for failure to reinstate HOD

Nagpur: In an embarrassment for the Nagpur University, its vice chancellor Subhash Chaudhari had to tender an unconditional apology in the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Wednesday following oral strictures passed by the judges.
The apology was tendered while hearing of a petition by Professor Mohan Kashikar, working as former head (HOD) of NU’s Political Science department, who was replaced by VC levying vague allegations of professional misconduct. Chaudhari also instituted a departmental enquiry (DE) against him after appointing NU History department professor Shyam Koretti in his place on July 31, 2021, according to petitioner’s counsel Firdos Mirza.
When the case came up for listing in morning hours, a division bench comprising justices Sunil Shukre and Anil Pansare passed oral strictures against VC for failure to comply with its orders of withdrawing DE proceedings against Kashikar and to reinstate him as Political Department HOD. The judges even went to the extent to say that VC “was not fit for the job” after he tried to mislead them.
On request of NU counsel Sudhir Puranik, the hearing was kept in afternoon hours where registrar Raju Hiwase and deputy registrar Pradeep Biniwale were personally present. They not only tendered an apology on the VC’s behalf but also assured HC that he will not commit the same mistake in the future.
While hearing Kashikar’s second petition of VC stopping his increment, the judges directed NU to withdraw the decision and provide arrears to him from July 2021 with 7% interest rate. They also made it clear the petitioner should be immediately reinstated till his superannuation if no other eligible candidate is found.
The petitioner was further granted liberty to approach chancellor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for his prayer for removing VC for “systematic victimization" and “misusing his powers” under Section 11 (14) (e) of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016.
On Tuesday, the VC filed a pursis in HC stating that Kashikar’s grievance was substantially redressed as NU would be dropping the DE proceedings against him and also withdrawing the charge-sheet filed against him on August 3 last year, as he was retiring. However, petitioner’s counsel strongly countered it stating that they were fighting the case for honour.