After contempt notice, NU pays over ₹1L arrears to retired HoD

Nagpur: Even after clear orders from the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court’s in October last year, the Nagpur University (NU) administration failed to release increment arrears to retired head of political science department, Mohan Kashikar, for over six months.
It was only after Kashikar issued a contempt notice through counsel Tejas Deshpande to NU vice-chancellor Subhash Chaudhari and registrar Raju Hiwase, the university released his arrears of over Rs1 lakh with 7% interest.
NU officials said the arrears and interest were paid from the university general fund that comprises fees collected from the students and colleges.
The VC did not reply to messages sent by TOI.
The arrears were to be paid as per the HC’s orders in which the judges had passed oral strictures against the VC who was also told to reinstate Kashikar as HoD of the political science department with immediate effect.
As per the notice issued by Kashikar, the university was asked to pay a specific amount with interest from July 1, 2021, within two months from the judgment date of October 19, 2022. That period expired on December 12 last year, but the NU administration failed to comply.
“My client had made a representation to you on April 3 for complying with the HC’s verdict by making the payment within 15 days with interest. But for the reasons best known to you, you have turned a Nelson’s eye towards it. This act on your part amounts to contempt of the HC’s orders and invites an action under the provisions of The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971,” Deshpande mentioned in the notice.
The VC had replaced Kashikar allegedly accusing him of professional misconduct on May 5, 2021. He had also instituted a departmental enquiry (DE) against him while replacing him with NU history department professor Shyam Koretti. After his increments were withheld, Kashikar approached the HC through counsel Firdos Mirza.
After HC censured him, the VC had to not only tender apology but also assure that he will not commit the same mistake again. Chaudhari dropped DE proceedings against Kashikar and withdrew the charge-sheet.
Kashikar was granted liberty to approach chancellor for his prayer to remove Chaudhari for “systematic victimization" and “misusing his powers” under Section 11 (14) (e) of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016.