Regd. No. MCS/035/2015-17 RNI Regn. No. 43675/1985 MUMBAI FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 32 PAGES `3 Website: www.afternoondc.in
Aft er oo MAYOR: SWINE FLU IS A ‘HEART DISEASE’ By Khushboo Panjabi & Santia Dudi
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ity's first citizen, Mayor Snehal Ambekar is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons. Yesterday, on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti celebrations at Shivaji Park, she made an absurd comment of swine flu having linkages to heart ailments. "Swine flu is a heart disease hence, BMC will plant trees, develop gardens and parks to check swine flu.” Last year on November 11, when the people were striving to get rid off dengue and bracing themselves for a potential epidemic, Mayor Ambekar claimed that the media had exaggerated the intensity of the disease outbreak in the city. In November 11, 2014 she accused the media of over-exaggerating the intensity of the outbreak of dengue in the city and later clarified Continued on pg 2 «
MAYOR SNEHAL AMBEKAR SHOCKED MUMBAIKARS BY MAKING A BIZARRE STATEMENT, SHE ADDED THAT THE BMC WILL PLANT TREES, DEVELOP GARDENS AND PARKS TO CHECK Irresponsible statement, say doctor SWINE FLU Countering the alleged irresponsible statement made by the Mayor on swine flu, a medico from a civic hospital on conditions of anonymity said, “This is absolutely unscientific. The Mayor should read and do some research before making such a statement on such a sensitive issue. What can we (doctors) expect from the cash-rich BMC, if a Mayor makes such outbursts without any knowledge.”
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Guv asks VC to go Dr Naresh Chandra replaces Dr. Rajan Welukar, as officiating Vice-Chancellor until further orders By Yatin Ingle
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fter the petitions, hearings and also the judgments on the eligibility of Dr Rajan Welukar, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of University of Mumbai (MU) prolonged for four years, the Governor has now demanded the resignation from Welukar with immediate effect. The issue began in August 2011, when a petition was filed by former Pro Vice-Chancellor of MU and former Vice-Chancellor of Rajasthan University A.D. Sawant, against Welukar. Sawant was a contender in the list of vice chancellors when Welukar was appointed as the VC of the University of Mumbai. A writ petition was filed in the Bombay HC by Sawant in September 2010. The plea asks for invalidation of Welukar’s appointment. Welukar was appointed as VC on July 6, 2011, after his selection was finalised by the search committee appointed by the governor, who is also the chancellor of the university.The search
“As per the directions of the Chancellor, I shall be taking up the charge as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the University till further directions or decisions by the Chancellor.” — Dr Naresh Chandra committee consists of nationally reputed educationists, researchers and scientists. The petition also alleged that the state and search committee have acted in an ‘arbitrary and capricious manner’ and ‘flouted the provisions of the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, University Grants Commission norms as well as guidelines laid down (by the state) for the appointment of the VC of Mumbai University’. When the case was filed, Sawant was the VC of Rajasthan University, who was then allegedly removed from the post in December 2010. The petition claimed that Welukar does not possess the basic, essential qualifications and the experience required for the post. It has asked for an order calling for the records pertaining to his appointment. Later in 2012, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday reserved the order sine die in a petition against Dr. Rajan Welukar, Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University. Though the case has been going on in the courts since the last four years, the term of Welukar as the VC which is five years was to end in the month of March 2015 without the final decision over his post. Yesterday, the Governor of Maharashtra, Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who is also the Chancellor of Mumbai University took the decision in the wake of orders passed by the Bombay High Court from time to time while hearing the petitions challenging the essential eligibility qualification possessed by Welukar and considering the fact that the High Court has directed a search committee to reconsider the question of the eligibility of Welukar for the post of Vice Chancellor. The Chancellor has now asked the Pro Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr Naresh Chandra to act as the officiating Vice Chancellor of the University until further orders. The ADC spoke to Dr Naresh Chandra who has now been given the charge of acting VC of the MU. He said, “As per the directions of the Chancellor, I shall be taking up the charge as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the University till further directions or decisions by the Chancellor.”.