Joshi on ‘leave’, interim Principal appointed at Army Law College

Students had led an agitation from August 8 against Joshi for over 11 days by refusing to attend classes and later attending classes in open areas in the campus instead of the classrooms. Protestors alleged a hostile, unprofessional, and oppressive environment after Joshi and Mann took over the reigns of the college. Faculty members being assigned subjects outside their core expertise, academic timetables being changed with little or no notice, dissolution of the Student Council, and academic policies hindering student’s mental health were alleged concerns raised by the students. Joshi had denied these allegations at the onset of the protest.

Students had later resumed classes when they were informed that Joshi had been ‘put on administrative leave’ by college authorities. A student leading the agitation told The Indian Express, “We have resumed the classes after we were told that Principal Joshi has been put on administrative leave by the college management. Also because we have our exams this month. However we are not satisfied with the current situation as there are chances that she might come back. We do not want her to be a part of our college.”

Despite repeated attempts, Deshmane and Mann did not respond to calls for a comment on the matter.

On August 25, a three-member committee formed by the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) for inquiry into the protest at the college was denied entry to the campus by the college administration on August 22 citing ‘army protocols’. This committee is yet to submit its report to the University, confirmed a member.