Former registrar gets clean chit but yet to be reinstated at Mumbai university

Even as the former registrar of Mumbai university, K Venkatramani, is said to have been given a clean chit from all charges levelled against him regarding mismanagement of the 2008 electoral process to the senate, university sources claimed he has not been taken back by the university. A committee had been set up by the university headed by retired judge RJ Kochar to look into the allegations. It had submitted a report in the first week of September, exonerating Venkatramani of all charges. Venkatramani, said sources, is said to have sent two letters to the vice-chancellor (Rajan Welukar), to inform him that the charges against him have been dropped and he should be reinstated. “One of the deputy registrars (LR Mane) was holding charge but he too went on medical leave recently. An officer on special duty has been appointed by the vice-chancellor in the meantime,” said a university official. “The registrar’s post is a crucial one in a university. When the university is conducting crucial elections to the senate, a full-time registrar is a must. When Venkatramani has been given a clean chit by the committee, why should there be any delay in taking him back?” questioned the official. Venkatramani had also moved court earlier this year against governor K Sankaranarayanan’s order that had called for punitive action against him over irregularities in the 2008 senate elections. Declaring the election of Subhash Athavale, as senate member of the university, null and void, Sankaranarayanan had implicated RD National College principal Dinesh Panjwani, Venkatramani and former pro vice-chancellor AD Sawant. Objections had been raised that Athavale did not have the requisite five-year’s teaching experience. The governor’s order said that Venkatramani failed in his duties by accepting Athavale’s nomination.“Since the university had set up a committee to inquire into the matter, the court had directed Venkatramani to return only if he was not satisfied with the report. If there’s more delay by the university in taking him back, he can approach the court on the issue,” said university sources. Venkatramani or Welukar could not be contacted for comments.