Ajit Ranade’s termination as Gokhale Institute VC won’t come into effect till Oct 7: HC

A division bench of Justices Mahesh S Sonak and Kamal R Khata was hearing a plea by Ranade challenging the September 14 termination order.Ranade also sought urgent relief for a stay pending his plea.

Ranade was issued a termination letter by Chancellor Bibek Debroy after a fact-finding committee found that his candidature does not conform to the established norms set forth by the guidelines of University Grants Commission (UGC).
The court was informed that the Chancellor of the university, through an email dated September 14, agreed to the petitioner’s request for continuance as VC till September 21.

As the regular bench having assignment to hear the said matters was not available, Justice Sonak-led alternate bench on September 18 had passed an interim order directing that Ranade’s termination shall not be given effect till further orders and the same was continued till September 26.

On Thursday, the bench was informed by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Devang Vyas appearing for the institute that after the termination decision, the administrative functions were already assigned to its senior most professor.
He added that on account of the interim order of the HC, there were difficulties for Shah in carrying out day-to-day functions and the same was affecting the functioning of the institute.

The bench clarified, “Accordingly we clarify that nothing in statement or ad interim order was intended to produce this result. It simply meant the petitioner continues as V-C (till further orders), but the senior most professor can continue with the day to day functions so that functioning of the university/institute is not hampered in any matter.”
Justice Sonak noted that the regular bench having the assignment to hear the matter concerned is scheduled to resume on October 4.

ASG Vyas agreed to extend the statement by the Chancellor, after which the bench continued its interim order till October 7.