Professor Neeraj Hatekar has decided to move court against his suspension by Mumbai University for "providing false information to the media".
The university's management council suspended Hatekar on Saturday for "violating the code of conduct and moral turpitude" after the econometrics professor called a press conference and spoke of the varsity's decline and alleged irregularities in the institution.
The suspension was roundly criticized on Sunday. C Rammanohar Reddy, editor of the Economic and Political Weekly, described the university decision as "undemocratic". Social activist Pushpa Bhave backed Hatekar and said there was nothing wrong in speaking about the malpractices in the university and its degradation.
Many others called Hatekar "brave" for openly speaking on important issues that have long worried many. "It is not that Hatekar ignored other channels. He wrote several letters to the vice chancellor (VC) and asked him the fix the problems. When the VC did not respond, he wrote to the governor. When he too turned a blind eye, Hatekar approached the media," said a dean. "I feel ashamed of myself for asking you to quote me anonymously; I don't have Hatekar's courage."
"When the management council met, the VC proposed Hatekar's suspension, saying he had brought the university into disrepute. Most people on the council are VC's men," maintained a dean. Another dean added, "Hatekar is among the finest academicians we have. He is paying the price for being brutally honest."
Hatekar said on Sunday that he "will challenge the suspension in court".
Considered by students as among the finest professors for econometrics, Hatekar has been on the hit list of top university authorities ever since he spoke out against the academic degradation and poor governance of the 156-year-old institution. Hatekar is the convenor of the Joint Action Committee for Improvement of Higher Education in Maharashtra, a body that has been exposing the problems in the university.