Prominent educationist Dr. Rambhau Tupkari has filed a petition with the High Court (HC) challenging a notification dated December 20, 2023. The notification states that the Academic Council of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) decided, in a March 21, 2023 meeting, to immediately discontinue the registration process for D.Sc and D.Litt degrees.
Dr. Tupkari received an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) from the President of India during the convocation on December 3, 2021. On February 9, 2022, Dr. Tupkari submitted a synopsis for a Doctor of Science (D.Sc) degree and paid the requisite fee of Rs 5,000. However, in February 2024, he was informed that his application could not be processed due to a decision related to his previous D.Litt award. Despite this, Ordinance number 1111, which governs the awarding of D.Sc and D.Litt degrees, remains in effect. Additionally, Section 128 of the Maharashtra Public University Act, 2016, outlines the requirements for awarding these degrees, Section 5 of the act prescribes the objects and duties of the university according to which one strives hard for research activities with inter and intra research is the thrust area.
In response, a Division Bench of the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, consisting of Justice Nitin Sambre and Just A J Mantri, has issued notices to the Chancellor, RTMNU Vice Chancellor, Chairman of the Academic Council, Director of Higher and Technical Education, and the Minister of Higher and Technical Education, directing them to file their replies within four weeks. Senior lawyer Advocate Bhanudas Kulkarni is representing Dr. Tupkari in this matter.