High Court gives Akola agriculture university one week to decide on Nagpur's stalled Vasantrao Naik auditorium

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has taken a firm stand on the stalled work on the Vasantrao Naik Auditorium on the Agriculture College campus. The work on the auditorium has remained incomplete for years and the structure lies neglected. Pranay Parate had filed a public interest litigation in the High Court in the matter.

After hearing the petition, a Bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajnish Vyas asked that the petition itself be treated as a representation. Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, was ordered to decide on it within a week. Advocates Tejas J. Patil and Nishit Parate appeared for the petitioner.

After hearing both sides, the court took note of the seriousness and urgency of the matter. It observed that a quick resolution was needed. The university, the respondent, was told to treat the petition as a representation and decide within a week. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, the university has been given only one week.

On May 29, 2026, the petitioner had submitted a representation to the officials concerned, demanding that work on the auditorium be completed. No effective action followed, and the petitioner was compelled to approach the High Court.

The petition makes several demands. It seeks that construction of the auditorium be completed within a fixed time, that an account be given of the funds spent so far, that the security of the premises be ensured, and that criminal incidents there be investigated. It also says the structural safety of the building should be assessed and a regular compliance report submitted. On behalf of the petitioner, it was stated that the funds spent so far cannot be justified because the building is incomplete. The court was also asked to issue appropriate directions to the respondents.

The auditorium has a long history. In 2004-05, a proposal was approved to build a community auditorium for students, farmers and the general public on the occasion of the Agriculture College's centenary celebrations. It was to be named the Vasantrao Naik Auditorium.

Construction began in 2005. In 2007, however, environment-related objections were raised, court proceedings began and an interim stay was placed on construction. The stay was lifted after the court cases were disposed of, but construction was not restarted. The large building has since lain desolate and dilapidated for many years. The petition also says that incidents such as thefts, unauthorised occupation and criminal activity are taking place there.