Axed Mumbai University VC in line for Pune varsity's top post

MUMBAI: Sanjay Deshmukh, who was asked to step down from the Mumbai University vice-chancellor's post in 2017, is in the running for the top post at one of the state's leading universities - Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU).
He is among the 27 candidates shortlisted for the post by the university's vice-chancellor selection-cum-search committee. Their interviews are scheduled on May 18 and 19 in Mumbai.
In another major development, 20 of the 80 applicants have been shortlisted for the next stage of selection for MU VC's post. These candidates, too, will be interviewed in Mumbai on May 19. After the interviews, five names for each of the universities will be given to the governor, who will select the vice-chancellor. Both the leading state universities are likely to get a head this month.
Deshmukh, professor from MU's life sciences' department, was sacked by the then governor after a hasty implementation of the on-screen marking system (online assessment) leading to an unprecedented delay in the announcement of March 2017 summer exam results. His idea was to bring in more transparency in the assessment process, however, the last-minute implementation and the teething problems in the system cost him his job. While sources claimed that he had sought to re-apply for the post even at MU, the provisions of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act of 2016, does not make any VC eligible for re-appointment. Deshmukh remained unavailable for comment, but many university officials claimed that his intentions were clear and had he not enforced the implementation of online assessment, it would have been difficult for MU to adopt the system in one go in 2017. But he had a penchant for controversies, they added.
Among others shortlisted for Pune VC's post are MU's IDOL director, Prakash Mhanwar and Mumbai School of Economics and Public Policy director, Dolly Sunny. Their interviews will be held in IIT-B.
While MU's VC selection-cum-search committee's meetings were delayed after the appointment of its members, they expedited the process and have scheduled the interviews of the shortlisted 20 candidates on May 19. To apply for the VC post, 10 candidates from MU's departments had sought NOC from the administration. Names of the 20 shortlisted candidates are yet to be made public. During the interview, the candidates are expected to present their vision for MU before the search committee. Five final names will be handed over to the governor's office.