Twitter
Advertisement

Rajan Welukar as Mumbai University's Vice Chancellor: Search panel did not apply mind, says Bombay High Court

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

The Bombay high court on Thursday observed that the search committee which had short listed the name of Rajan Welukar as Mumbai University's vice chancellor (VC) made a serious error as prima facie he did not fulfill the requisite eligibility criteria for appointment on the

Is Welukar disqualified?

This does not mean that Welukar has been held disqualified to be VC. That issue will be decided by a bench headed by the chief justice. Welukar's five-year term will expire in July 2015. A division bench of justices PV Hardas and Anuja Prabhudessai on Thursday said that the search committee did not apply its mind while ascertaining mandatory qualifications — whether Welukar had to his credit a minimum of five research papers published in peer-reviewed or referred international research journals after PhD. The judges have further said that in view of the fact that the search committee did not apply its mind, the HC can exercise its extraordinary jurisdiction and interfere with Welukar's appointment despite the MU having it's own policies and rules.

Matter referred to CJ

The matter has now been referred to the bench of chief justice Mohit Shah to determine the issue of legality of Welukar's appointment. The issue of Welukar's appointment as VC came to the high court with PILs filed by social workers Niteen Deshpande and Vasant Genu Patil and a petition by AD Sawant, former vice chancellor of Rajasthan University. They had questioned Welukar's appointment on various grounds, primarily contending that he did not fulfill the requisite eligibility criteria for appointment to the post.

What was division bench verdict?

On June 16, 2011, a division bench of the chief justice and justice Girish Godbole delivered a split verdict on the petitions. The chief justice had found no fault with Welukar's appointment and had rejected all the contentions raised in the bunch of petitions. Justice Godbole had, however, sought to differ on one of the eligibility conditions — whether Rajan Welukar had to his credit minimum five research papers published in peer-reviewed or referred international research journal after PhD. Justice Godbole had, therefore, directed re-constitution of the search committee for ascertaining whether the condition had been fulfilled.

Did Welukar fulfill mandatory requirement?

The matter was referred to a third judge — justice SJ Vajifdar — for deciding whether Welukar fulfilled mandatory requirement and whether his appointment was required to be set aside, if his answer was in the negative. 

On February 22, 2012, justice Vazifdar pronounced his verdict on the reference expressing inability to decide the questions for want of information about specific research papers taken into consideration by the search committee. The chief justice then referred the matter to the bench headed by justice Hardas.

The search committee
The search committee, headed by Prof AS Kolaskar, vice chancellor, KIIT University, Bhubaneshwar and comprising Prof P Balaram, director, Indian Institute of Science, Banglore and JS Saharia, principal secretary, Relief and Rehabilitation, had first short-listed 20 candidates from the list of 98 applicants. It had ultimately recommended five names, including that of Welukar, to the governor for appointment as vice chancellor of Mumbai University.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement