The Minister, ex-officio pro vice-chancellor of the proposed university, had also instructed a private educational institution to announce a contest to pick a logo and motto for the university, contravening government regulations. An advertisement was inserted in the local newspapers recently and a deadline of June 5 was fixed.

But stranger still is the Minister's justification for both moves. He told The Indian Express that the case in the Bombay High Court challenging the institution's proposed location will not stand in his way as it has merely been admitted and no stay has been granted.

Asked how the Maratha Vidhya Prasarak Samaj (MVPS) was authorised to conduct a contest, Dr Aher snapped, ``Because I am the chairman of the institution!''But has theState Government delegated powers to the MVPS to conduct the contest on its behalf? Accusing the Press of adopting a ``negative stand'', the furious minister then said that the MVPS is doing the preparatory work ``out of love'' for him and if at all there are any financial problems, the MVPS would bear the expenses.

If the implications of his statements were not so serious, Dr Aher's candour would have indeed been disarming. He said the Government has not delegated any powers to the MVPS, clarifying that the institution is running the contest on his orders ``as there are limits to Government bureaucracy''.

The proposed university has run into a series of difficulties, with disputes concerning its location and composition aborting its takeoff. None of this has, however, blunted the Minister's enthusiasm. Hailing from Nashik, Dr Aher looks upon the institution has his personal gift to the district. He says he has roped in people from various political parties, organisations and professions in the exerciseto hold on Nashik as the venue.

The Arogya Vidnyan Vidyapeeth Kruti Samiti has already held two meetings, with the third scheduled for tomorrow. The samiti had earlier launched a signature campaign to buttress its claim, enlisting the support of Marathi litterateurs V W Shirwadkar and Vasant Kanetkar.

Dr Aher insists the inaugural function will be held at the Kalidas Kala Mandir on June 10, adding that the university will function from a building provided by the Nashik Municipal Corporation, pending construction of a new structure at Mhasrul.

Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court by the Institute of Science Kruti Samiti, Nagpur, claiming that the university be located in Nagpur instead of Nashik, as per the recommendations of the Vidarbha Development Board. However, the Nashik lobby, spearheaded by Dr Aher, is fighting back tooth and nail. The case is scheduled for hearing on June 22. Recently, some doctors from Dhule also staked their claim for the university on the ground thatmedical facilities in the district desperately needed improvement.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and some educationists in Mumbai have also questioned the university's constitution, especially the provision to install the Health Minister as the ex-officio pro vice-chancellor.