Allowing a political function on the premises of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University has again exposed its influence on the functioning of a university, which on paper is an autonomous body.
The University Management Council formally allowed the rally of a political party on its premises. A few months earlier the University had declared that without permission no one would be allowed to enter the university premises.
The planning for such a big event, including finalising the venue must have started at least three to five months in advance. The venue cannot be finalised in the last week of February for the March 4 programme, when the Management Council permitted them to use the university premises.
The controversial issue also relates to a similar incident in 2009, when the then VC Dr S N Pathan had allowed the university sports ground for the national convention of a political party.
The then Vice-Chancellor Dr Pathan and the Management Council members were issued show cause notice by the office of the Chancellor.
The issue of granting permission for a political function was raised on various forums. The University Senate also tried to corner Dr Pathan on the issue.
Rattled by the show cause notice Dr Pathan remained absent from the office for a long period. The issue was later ‘settled’.
Even now the controversial issue settled down without much hue and cry. Even the students’ and teachers’ organisations digested the issue peacefully. A vast majority of members of various university bodies, under the new Maharashtra Universities Act, are nominated. Thus any such action is not opposed in the university.