Status quo granted on move to change Solapur Univ name

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Friday granted status quo on the decision of changing Solapur University’s name to Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University. Even as on May 19, the state education minister had announced the renaming ceremony on May 31.

The court granted a stay on renaming the university while hearing a petition filed by former MLA Sudeep Chakote and public interest litigation filed by Shiva Akhil Bhartiya Veer Shaiv Yuvak Sangathna opposing changing of the name of the university, claiming that the chief minister was seeking political gain by changing the university’s name.

“There are many grounds for challenging this decision and one of them is that though the senate and management council of the varsity had opposed the change in name, the chief minister was seeking political gain by changing the name to appease a particular community,” said senior lawyer Satish Talekar, appearing on behalf of one of the petitioners. He also said, “The government in March this year had assured the court that as per a government resolution (GR) dated March 3, 2018, before taking final decision regarding change of name of the university, a sub-committee of ministers will have to hear various organisations, student’s organisations, political parties, social workers etc; however, nothing none was heard and decision was taken.”

According to Mr Chakote’s lawyer Sudhir Halli the vacation bench heard the matter because earlier the court was assured that no decision to change the name would be taken without hearing petitioners; but on May 19, education minister

Vinod Tawde announced the renaming ceremony date.

Following this announcement, the petitioners moved before the vacation bench and the court on Friday granted status quo.