Mumbai varsity VC Welukar moves HC seeking 'clarification'

Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University Rajan Welukar today pleaded before the Bombay High Court that its November 11 order questioning his shortlisting for the post does not record an important argument of his lawyer.
Welukar filed an application before the division bench headed by Justice P V Hardas today, seeking clarification on the issue.
In response to public interest litigations, the court had held that the search committee shortlisted Welukar for VC's post without "application of mind".
The judges today heard the matter in their chamber and adjourned the hearing to January 20. Advocate Rui Rodrigues appeared on behalf of the university.

Welukar's application says that the affidavit of the search committee's chairman specified that the candidate for vice chancellor's post should have five relevant publications of his research works and this was considered (while shortlisting Welukar's name).
The judges recorded all the submissions of lawyers of the petitioners (who had challenged Welukar's appointment) but important arguments of his counsel were not recorded, so the bench should " record and appropriately clarify the said position".

The petitioners' lawyers, however, contended that he was adopting delaying tactics as his tenure was due to expire.
The division bench headed by Justice Hardas had on November 11 observed that the search committee did not apply its mind while ascertaining mandatory qualifications -- whether Welukar had to his credit minimum five research papers published in peer-reviewed or referred international research journal after getting his Ph.D.

The order did not say that Welukar was held disqualified to be VC; the issue is to be decided by a bench headed by the Chief Justice.