The notice, based on a fresh inquiry report, required Chaudhari to appear for a personal hearing on Monday. However, govt pleader Deven Chauhan informed that it has been deferred till pendency of the petition to allow for further judicial review.
A division bench, comprising Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Vrushali Joshi, then adjourned the hearing till Tuesday and kept it first on the board.The decision followed an urgent appeal circulated by VC circulated due to the chancellor’s scheduled hearing on the same day.
Earlier, the HC issued notices to key respondents, including the State Higher and Technical Education Department, the chancellor, and the university registrar. The case hinged on allegations of irregularities against Chaudhari, which led Bais to constitute an inquiry panel led by deputy secretary Ashok Mande. Following the panel’s report, the chancellor issued a show cause notice to Chaudhari on May 8, demanding his presence for an explanation.
Terming the notice as malafide and contrary to the provisions in the law, Chaudhari, represented by counsel Firdos Mirza, contended that the allegations are outdated and were addressed in a previous HC judgment on March 14. He also challenged the legality of ‘Uniform Statutes No. 4 of 2023’, arguing that it contradicts the provisions of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, and should be annulled.
The legal battle follows an earlier suspension of Chaudhari by the chancellor on February 21, based on a report by deputy secretary Ajit Bawiskar-led panel which was constituted by the state to look into allegations against the VC in awarding university exam work contracts to MKCL without proper tenders, among other civil work contract issues. However, HC quashed the suspension order, citing procedural lapses under the ‘Uniform Statute 2023’ (introduced in August 2023).
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