Administrator Board Appointed at Shri Balaji University in Tathawade Following High Court Order
Pimpri-Chinchwad, 3rd October 2026: An administrator board has been appointed to oversee the functioning of Shri Balaji University in Tathawade, Pune, following directions issued by the High Court amid an internal dispute within the trust managing the self-financed university.
The dispute had reportedly affected the institution’s day-to-day academic and administrative functioning, prompting judicial intervention. The appointment of the administrator board is aimed at ensuring that the university’s routine operations continue smoothly and that students’ academic interests are not affected by the ongoing dispute.
The matter dates back to December 2024, following the death of the university’s founder president. After his death, his wife, B. Thilagavathi, was appointed as the president of the institution. However, her appointment subsequently became the subject of a legal dispute.
Taking note of the developments, the High Court directed the state government to intervene in the matter. Following the court’s directions, the state government took steps to address the situation and ensure that the university’s functioning was not disrupted.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Dada Patil took the initiative in the matter, following which the state government presented its position before the High Court. The government’s intervention focused on ensuring the continuity of the university’s academic and administrative activities amid the dispute.
Following the proceedings, the High Court ordered the appointment of an administrator board to oversee the university’s functioning.
Three-member administrator board appointed
The administrator board comprises senior academic and administrative officials from prominent educational institutions in Pune.
Dr. Parag Kalkar, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University, has been appointed as the Chief Administrator. Dr. Charushila Gaikwad, Chief Finance and Accounts Officer of Savitribai Phule Pune University, and Parag Sadgir, Dean of COEP, have been appointed as members of the administrator board.
Following their appointment, the newly constituted board immediately took charge of the university’s affairs.
The board’s intervention comes at a time when students had also raised concerns over issues concerning the university. The administrators visited the protest site and interacted directly with the protesting students to understand their grievances and demands.
The interaction provided the students an opportunity to put forward their concerns directly before the newly appointed administrators. The board’s decision to engage with the students at the protest site was viewed as an immediate step towards understanding the issues affecting the university community.
Focus on restoring normal functioning
The appointment of the administrator board is expected to bring greater administrative oversight to the university while the legal and internal issues surrounding the trust are addressed.
With senior officials from Savitribai Phule Pune University and COEP taking charge of the administration, attention is now expected to remain on maintaining academic activities, addressing student concerns and ensuring the university’s administrative and financial functioning continues without disruption.
The development also comes against the backdrop of concerns over the impact of the internal dispute on students and the wider university community. The newly appointed board will now oversee the institution’s functioning in accordance with the directions of the High Court.
The immediate engagement with protesting students has also indicated an effort to establish communication between the administration and students. Further steps are expected to focus on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring the continuity of academic and administrative operations at Shri Balaji University.
