Journalism of Courage
Seven senate members from the Yuva Sena were suspended by the Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor on Thursday for disrupting the proceedings on the second day of the senate meeting. This is the first time in the history of the university that senate members have been suspended from a meeting.
The Yuva Sena senate members demanded an explanation from the V-C,Rajan Welukar,on the alleged question paper leaks and examination goof-ups but he declined to comment. The senate members threatened to stop the proceedings unless the V-C gave an explanation.
Following this,Welukar suspended the seven members under Section 14-11 of Maharashtra University Act,which states that the V-C has the right and power to suspend a senate member from a senate meeting.
Senate members Dilip Karande and Neelima Bhurke repeatedly demanded explanations about the rumours of question paper leaks. If the TYBCom paper was not leaked,why is the university setting up an inquiry committee on the same? The V-C wanted to evade our questions and our doubts and objections on the budget,which is why he suspended us in the first half of the meeting, said Bhurke.
The seven members then walked out of the meeting shouting slogans against the V-C and varsity administration. The two-day senate meeting began with these senate members demanding Welukars resignation. As elected senate members,we have the right to voice our opposition against the V-C for sloppy administration, said Pradeep Sawant,one of the suspended members.
The suspended members Karande,Bhurke,Sawant,Shashikant Zore,Rajan Kolambikar,Mahadeo Jagtap and Sanjay Vairal then staged a dharna at MUs Fort campus.
While addressing the media,Welukar said the MU has appointed a committee headed by Dr M G Shirhatti on the issue of question paper leaks. There are certain procedures to deal with these issues. It is a crucial and sensitive issue and the university cannot take any decision in haste. I cannot say whether the paper was leaked or not till we get the inquiry report, he said.
Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray said,Our senate members had over 150 cut motions to be discussed. The V-C conveniently suspended them and passed the budget. We have given a week to the government to act or we will deal with the issue on our own terms. We have also suggested that the government should send the V-C on leave and appoint an administrator for the university.
