The appointment of Dr Shantishree Pandit as Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University has come under controversy. She was found to be guilty of wrongfully admitting students, when she was head of International Students Centre, at Savitribai Phule Pune University.
The issue of wrong admissions was raised by the then Senate member Dr Pandit. She had admitted Indian students against seats reserved for wards of Persons of Indian Origin. Following the charges and enquiry the then VC Dr Narendra Jadhav had divested her of the charge of the Centre. The enquiry was conducted by retired judge J N Patil and report was submitted in the year 2009. The report, however, was not disclosed for about two years.
Dr Bagul, who was President of Pune University Teachers Association brought the report to the fore using Right to Information Act. Five increments in Dr Pandit’s salary was withheld as punishment.
Dr Pandit’s appointment as VC of prestigious JNU evoked strong criticism from senior academicians in Pune University.
