Pune: Bombay high court on Wednesday said that the Sept 14 order removing Ajit Ranade as vice-chancellor (VC) of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) should not be given effect till Sept 23 so as to enable him to argue the challenge to his removal before a regular bench. Ranade filed a petition before the high court on Wednesday challenging GIPE (a deemed university) chancellor 's Sept 14 order removing him from the post and seeking his reinstatement. The matter came up for a hearing before the bench of Justice M S Sonak and Justice Kamal Khata.
Senior advocate Mihir Desai, representing Ranade, made a mention for urgent circulation of the matter before an alternate bench as the regular bench was not available. The bench noted, "The Chancellor of the University by an email dated 14 September 2024 has agreed to the petitioner's request for extension that is continuance as Vice Chancellor during the close of working hours on Saturday, 21 September 2024. Mr Desai, learned senior advocate for the petitioner, submits that during this extended period, the petitioner has instituted the present petition.
" It said, "Since the regular bench would not be available till Monday, 22 September 2024, we post this matter on 23 September 2024. The impugned (under challenge) order should not be given effect for at least an additional day, that is up to the close of working hours on 23 September 2024 so that the Petitioner has an opportunity to argue the matter before the regular be.