MSU Syndicate extends Panikkar146;s suspension

At the M S University Syndicate meeting that continued till late hours of Friday, it was decided that Prof Shivaji Panikkar8217;s suspension will be extended till the university probe panel...

At the M S University Syndicate meeting that continued till late hours of Friday, it was decided that Prof Shivaji Panikkar8217;s suspension will be extended till the university probe panel presents a report on the issue at the syndicate meeting scheduled next month. The syndicate members also decided they would not cooperate with the Governor-appointed fact finding committee citing violation of the Maharaja Sayaji Rao University of Baroda Act, 1949.

Meanwhile in another development, syndicate member and Baroda University Teacher Association BUTA President I I Pandya has written a letter to the university Vice-President Manoj Soni to express his disapproval on the syndicate8217;s decision. He had walked out of the syndicate meeting on Friday.

8220;The Governor of Gujarat stands in the capacity of Visitor to the MSU. Within the terms of the Maharaja Sayaji Rao University of Baroda Act, 1949, he enjoys clear and definite powers to intervene and look into the functioning of the University and any of its organs, including the highest, in the event of evidence or even substantive apprehension of violation of the statutes and provisions of the University Act,8221; he said.

He also pointed out that while the university has placed the letter of the Governor before the Syndicate for scrutiny, it has, however, failed to show any case of transparency in the case of a letter issued by the University Grants Commission that sought explanation from the university for its objectionable decisions on the current crisis.

Syndicate member Pragnesh Shah said that according to the 1949 Act handbook, the Governor can only intervene in financial issues related to the university. Setting up a fact-finding committee on this particular issue, he said, was a sheer violation and politicisation of the university matters. 8220;Though syndicate members would respect the fact finding committee member, they would not cooperate with them while pursuing their fact-finding business,8221; he said.

On the extension of Panikkar8217;s suspension, Shah said, 8220;A single committee has been appointed to deal with the matter of Panikkar8217;s suspension, and it is very cautiously looking into the matter and would present a report to the syndicate at a meeting to be held in the second week of August.8221;