This decision was taken following a heated debate over the issue in the University's Management Council this evening. Realising that the house was divided over the matter, the varsity decided to refer it to the Advocate General.

While the meeting was on inside the Management Council (MC) room, on the steps of the university building, around 50 NSUI (National Students Union of India) volunteers led by Pranil Nair, staged a silent demonstration urging the MC members to take a fair decision.

The concerned dean, Vaid Dinanath Upadhyay, himself an MC member, was asked to leave the room when the matter came up for discussion in the house.

Some of the MC members did not agree with the suggestion of the university legal advisor (which was tabled before the house) thatUpadhyay can continue as the dean since he had committed the examination irregularity in 1985, which was before the implementation of the new Maharashtra Universities Act 1994. According to the legal advisor, the 1994 Act does not apply to the said case, hence the dean cannot be disqualified.

However, other members felt that this legal advice was proper and the dean should remain in authority.

The issue was tabled before the MC, only after the senate member, Amarjit Manhas, recently complained to the university and the Chancellor, demanding the disqualification of the dean under section 44 (e) of the 1994 Act which states that a person cannot hold any authority of the university if he/she has been found guilty of any examination related malpractice.

Once the AG gives his opinion on the matter, it will be tabled before the MC in its next meeting.