Maharashtra assembly passes bill to rename Pune University

Pune University will be renamed as Savitribai Phule Pune University, a bill regarding it was passed today unanimously in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

Higher Education Minister Vinod Tawde tabled Legislative Assembly bill no. 32 - Maharashtra University Amendment Bill 2014 in the upper house. Under the bill, there was provision to rename Pune University as Savitribai Phule Pune University.

Neelam Gorhe and Jogendra Kawade of Shiv Sena, Dipti Choudhary of Congress and NCP's Vidya Chavhan lauded the efforts of the previous and present government in this regard as Council members unanimously passed the bill.

NCP's Sunil Tatkare demanded that the Solapur University should be renamed as Ahalyabai Holkar, while some members also raised the demand to change names of Mumbai and North Maharashtra University in the memory of noted figures Rajmata Jijau and Bahinabai Choudhari respectively. Council chairperson Shivajirao Deshmukh took a note of it and instructed the Higher Education Minister to work in this regard.