Tags:
Journalism of Courage
PUNE, JAN 11: The final list for the top job at the University of Pune is still not dispatched to the Chancellor. But on Tuesday, the race to head the mantle of the University of Pune moved closer to a finish, with six names from 39 candidates reportedly in the final reckoning.
On Tuesday in Delhi, the vice-chancellor’s selection committee chaired by director general Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Raghunath Mashelkar, has narrowed down the contenders to six candidates, of which three names will be dispatched to the Chancellor, for interviews early next week.
While this committee meeting, its second, was expected to shoot the top three short-listed candidates to the chancellor, officials maintained that the final three names will be decided only after one last telephonic consultation between the five committee members within the next two days.
However, now in the reckoning for the final finish, claim officials, is first-time candidate Dr Gajanan Ekbote, dean medical faculty, professor surgery at the B J Medical College, the Chancellor’s nominee on the academic council and chairman Progressive Education Society (PES).
The contenders include present officiating vice-chancellor and earlier pro vice-chancellor N J Sonawane, who was handed temporary charge of the University after vice-chancellor Dr Arun Nigavekar moved to Delhi as the vice-chairman University Grants Commission (UGC) last year.
Second-time contender for VC is Ashok Kolaskar, who has formerly headed the zoology department and was member academic council. Kolaskar is presently in the US on a two-year programme.
Also included are Dilip Deobagkar, first-time candidate and head of the zoology department at the University of Pune, and Indore-based scientist Bhavalkar.
With the committee yet to close down on the final three names, officials maintain a silence over interviews expected to be conducted by the Chancellor on January 15-16.
Long-standing administrative, academic and research experience, publication of research papers and working knowledge of university statutes and acts are among the parameters considered for the position.
