Mumbai: In a significant development, the dismissal of Dr. Ajit Ranade, a prominent economist and political analyst, from the position of Vice-Chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics has been officially revoked.
This decision was conveyed during a hearing at the Bombay High Court on Tuesday (October 22), where the university confirmed that it had withdrawn the earlier order of dismissal.
As per the university’s submission in court, the institute’s Chancellor withdrew the dismissal order, and the court accepted this decision. The court also mandated that in the event of any future adverse decisions regarding Dr. Ranade, a notice period of one week must be provided before implementation.
The university clarified that this move was made to ensure that Dr. Ranade receives fair treatment in line with natural justice.
Following this decision, Dr. Ranade's legal team, led by lawyer Vivek Salunke, informed the court that the petition challenging his dismissal was being withdrawn. The court granted approval for the withdrawal, bringing a temporary respite to the uncertainty surrounding Dr. Ranade’s position.
Dr. Ajit Ranade, widely regarded for his contributions to economics and political analysis, had become the center of controversy after his removal from office, sparking considerable debate in academic and public circles.
With the court’s intervention and the university's withdrawal of its dismissal order, the situation has now been defused. However, Gokhale Institute has yet to make an official statement regarding the initial decision to remove him.
The court emphasized that any future actions against Dr. Ranade would require that he be given the opportunity to present his case, ensuring adherence to the principles of natural justice.
This decision is being viewed as an important step toward safeguarding ethical and legal procedures in educational institutions.
