Nagpur Scams Oct 2012 : Fresh HC notice to govt, police commissioner on Nagpur University roster scam

Fresh HC notice to govt, police commissioner on Nagpur University roster scam
NAGPUR TOI News : The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court has issued fresh notices to Maharashtra government and Nagpur commissioner of police over

amendments carried out in a petition regarding Nagpur University's roster scam, first exposed by the TOI. A division bench comprising justices Pratap hardas and Ashok Bhangale also served notice on Sitabuldi police inspector.

Additional government pleader TA Mirza waived notices on behalf of respondents and sought two weeks time to file an affidavit. The judges then adjourned the hearing till November 22, when the court resumes its working after two weeks of Diwali vacations.

Petitioner Sunil Mishra had moved the higher judiciary citing a report by justice (retired) GG Loney panel, which confirmed tampering in the job manuals better known as roster, and termed it a "big conspiracy". The panel also named former assistant registrar, who had confessed to tampering and even admitted it in writing.

The scam was exposed by TOI on March 19, 2009, after which NU had blocked appointments. The report was kept under wraps by then NU administration apprehending that over 500 appointments would be cancelled if the roster was corrected and properly implemented. The newspaper ran a series exposing how NU officials were sitting on various reports confirming the big scam in job manuals.

The petitioner had filed an application under section 9(3)(b) of the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, before the chancellor. He was told on May 17, 2010, that his application has been referred to the VC and the principal secretary of higher education. Though Justice Loney submitted a report on January 5, 2011, no action has been taken till date and even Mishra's application was kept pending.

During the last assembly session in Mumbai, one of the legislators had raised a query in this regard where NU had replied that action was under consideration. Earlier too queries have been raised by leader of opposition Pandurang Phundkar along with BJP national president Nitin Gadkari and MLC Ashok Mankar demanding clarification from the government on the scam. MLA Vikas Kumbhare had raised the issue last year. But the reply from NU was always the same.

During last hearing, the court had directed the petitioner to make amendments in the petition by including a prayer for a high-level enquiry by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and subsequent filing of a police complaint in this regard. It was then treated as a separate criminal writ petition. Mishra appeared in person before the court. In earlier petition, he had demanded directives to NU to act on the recommendations of Loney panel, which had asked the NU VC to immediately lodge an FIR for further investigation into the scam.