SP college vice-principal suspended

Earlier,Library in-charge,Sunil Gaikwad accepted the relieving letter (from additional charge). Khandagale,Ransure and Prof Saroj Hiremath,coordinator of the Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA),had refused.

A committee has also been set up to look into allegations against Prof Hiremath of improper functioning and irregularities in evaluation of examinations in the BBA department.

“We received complaints against Prof Saroj Hiremath,co-ordinator,BBA department. It will look into the matter and send a report to Shikshan Prasarak Mandal,” said Sheth.

Khandagale alleged that he was being made a victim of caste politics while the staff maintained that Khandagale himself was the one who tried to introduce caste politics on campus.

The incidents,however,did not hurt the admission process. A staff meeting was held and all were directed to carry on with the admissions without interruption.

Khandagale and Ransure plan to seek legal advice and present their case before the Scheduled Caste Commission under the Atrocities Act soon. When asked about details of the order,Khandagale said he was yet to go through the whole order.

He maintained that he had never used abusive language or threatened the principal. “This is a case of caste discrimination. We have support of various groups and will agitate against the casteist management,” said Khandagele,also the director of the Dr Ambedkar Study Centre of the college.

Prof Gaikwad had on Wednesday accepted the letter relieving him of his additional post of library in-charge and hence no action was taken against him.

On Thursday evening,members of the Pune University Principals Forum met Sheth to express solidarity. Nand Kumar Nikam,president,Pune University Principals Forum and president,Maharashtra State Principals Federation,said,“It was very unjustified to direct all ire at the principal. It was the management decision to remove all the four persons from their respective additional posts. The principal only communicated the decision,he cannot be held responsible for it. The principal’s office should be treated with respect and such administrative matters should not disturb the academic environment of the college.”