Proposal in SPPU senate seeks apology from council members who chanted religious slogans at meeting

At least six members of the management council, the primary executive body of the university, began their council meeting on February 6 with chants of religious slogans. The meeting was chaired by Vice Chancellor Suresh Gosavi. The pro vice chancellor was also present.

A draft proposal demanding an apology from council members who raised religious slogans has been listed for discussion in the upcoming meeting of SPPU’s senate body on March 23.

Senate member Harsh Jagzap, who has made the proposal, told The Indian Express, “The act of the council members concerned was in violation of Article 28 which is against any religious instruction in an educational institute wholly maintained out of state funds.” It is also against various circulars sent out by the Maharashtra government against holding religious programmes in state-funded institutes, he added.

“Most importantly, such an incident harms the reputation of the university. Those responsible should make a public apology failing which the senate should condemn the act,” Jagzap said.

A fact-finding committee constituted under the chairmanship of retired judge Shrikrishna Panse was earlier expected to submit a report in the first week of March. However, it has now extended its timeline by three months, according to the registrar-in-charge Vijay Khare, who is also a member of the committee.