University registrar got caught in union rivalry: Inquiry report

The registrar of the University of Mumbai who was removed a year ago for allegedly allowing an ineligible candidate to contest a senate election has been cleared of all charges.

The registrar of the University of Mumbai who was removed a year ago for allegedly allowing an ineligible candidate to contest a senate election has been cleared of all charges.

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The report of the departmental inquiry ordered against K Venkatramani stated that he was ‘victimised’ and caught in ‘sheer union rivalry.’

The inquiry report, which was prepared in September 2010, was recently made public by the university. A copy of it is with the Hindustan Times.

In the final observation, the panel head justice RJ Kochar said, “He has not committed any act of misconduct and I therefore absolve him from all charges of misconduct levelled against him.”

The case dates back to 2008 senate elections when a librarian Subhash Athawale had applied for his candidature from the teachers’ constituency and mentioned in his form that he had the requisite 10 years of teaching experience.

“In my considered opinion the scrutiny committee was right in accepting the nomination form of Subhash Athawale. The said provision nowhere provides for a further examination or scrutiny by calling for the evidence from the candidates who had prima facie established that he had 10 years of teaching experience,” said the report.