The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday passed orders for appointing a new inquiry officer for the fact-finding committee formed by the M S University (MSU) to investigate the suspension of Prof Shivji Panikkar of the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA). The decision was taken in consent with both the parties, i.e., MSU and the counsel of Prof Panikkar. The Gujarat High Court had summoned both the parties after MSU had filed an affidavit against the decision of the Gujarat University Tribunal to stay the fact-finding committee, a month ago.

In response to the MSU affidavit, Prof Shivji Panikkar’s advocate Mukul Sinha submitted his affidavit in the first week of April. However, the hearing that was to be held on April 9 was deferred till April 15.

Speaking to Newsline, Sinha said, “With the consent of MSU representative S N Shelat, the High Court passed orders for appointing a new inquiry officer in lieu of Prof G C Maheshwari.” Furthermore, it was also decided that the Gujarat University Tribunal case regarding the suspension of Prof Panikkar would continue, he said.

Sinha added, “Thirdly, if any adverse order is passed by the new inquiry committee officer, it is open to Prof Panikkar to challenge the order by way of a fresh application in the said application. He has the right to raise a contention, which he has raised on the present application including the question of jurisdiction.”

Prof Panikkar who was in Delhi expressed satisfaction with the High Court order.

Earlier in August 2007, in a 45-page report the MSU fact-finding committee had found both Prof Panikkar and student Chandramohan guilty and had recommended strict disciplinary against both of them. Also, five teachers were indicted in the report for breach of rules and it had been recommended that a chargesheet be filed against them. However, a couple of MSU Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA) teachers including Prof P D Dhumal said they had been misquoted in the report. Later on, based on further evidence of disagreements, the Gujarat University Tribunal brought a stay on the MSU fact-finding inquiry committee. However, about a month ago, MSU appealed to the Gujarat High Court to allow them to initiate an inquiry into the issue on the premise that if a chargesheet is filed in any incident that has occurred in MSU, the varsity is liable to initiate a preliminary inquiry with the help of a fact-finding committee.

Meanwhile, Shelat said, “Though I don’t have the transcript, the appeal of the Gujarat University Tribunal to stay the inquiry has been set aside through consent. The appointment of the new inquiry officer was ordered in the presence of Justice M R Shah. “

Meanwhile, MSU Vice-Chancellor Prof Ramesh Goyal said, “We will follow the High Court orders and form a new inquiry officer in lieu of Prof G C