Retired Judge Shrikrishna Panse Appointed Lokpal of Savitribai Phule Pune University to Address Student Grievances
Pune, 5th January 2024: Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has appointed retired Judge Shrikrishna Panse as the Lokpal (ombudsman), tasked with addressing 15 types of student grievances. This appointment follows the University Grants Commission’s directive to establish a ‘Lokpal’ in all universities across the country.
The decision to appoint Judge Panse as the Lokpal was made by Prof. (Dr.) Suresh Gosavi, Vice Chancellor of SPPU, in compliance with the UGC directive. The primary role of Judge Panse will involve hearing and adjudicating appeals against decisions made by the Institutional Grievance Redressal Cell and the University Grievance Redressal Cell. This move is expected to expedite the resolution of students’ concerns.
To ensure a transparent and unbiased selection process, a three-member committee was formed to choose the Lokpal. After evaluating three candidates, Panse, a retired Chief District and Sessions Court Judge, was selected for the role. His appointment was recommended in the management committee meeting and subsequently approved by Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Suresh Gosavi. Panse brings a wealth of experience, having served as a judge in various capacities, including Chief District and Sessions Court Judge in Satara.
The University Grants Commission mandates the establishment of a Grievance Redressal Committee at the University level to address academic and administrative grievances. Judge Panse will handle complaints related to discriminatory treatment, non-return of certificates, admission rule violations, excessive fee charges, scholarship grievances, non-conduct of exams as per schedule, and other issues.
Prof. (Dr.) Vijay Khare, In-charge Registrar, stated, “The name ofJudge Panse was recommended before the management committee of the university. After the committee approved his name, the Vice-Chancellor appointed him.”
Judge Panse’s appointment is for a three-year term, during which he is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring a fair and efficient grievance redressal mechanism at Savitribai Phule Pune University.
