Maharashtra: State gets temporary education director as Dhanraj Mane discharged from duty

Mumbai:A per a notice released by Higher and Technical Education Department of Maharashtra, Dr Dhanraj Mane, former higher education director, has been discharged from his position after an eye test at the Sir JJ Hospital in Byculla deemed him unfit to perform his duties. The medical report stated that Mane was unsuitable to undertake the duties of director of higher education because "he is blind in the right eye and has poor eyesight in the left."

In the mean time, Dr. Shailendra Devlankar, Associate Professor at Government Vidarbha Institute of Science, Amravati and the current registrar of Mumbai University has been temporarily deputed to the vacant post of Director, Higher Education until a candidate is appointed through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission or until further orders are issued.

Amar Ekad, president of a student organisation called Care of Public Safety (COPS), had requested the officer's medical examination in August. Mane reportedly refused to remain present for the test. Consequently, Ekad went on a 26 day hunger strike in protest of Mane's medical condition.

"After the intervention of CM Shinde and other government officials, Mane finally underwent a medical examination," Ekad said. "We wish for him to be terminated from his duties," he added.