Sonawane replaces M G Shinde, who has been transferred as officiating controller of examinations in place of deputy Registrar V S Pole, who has been appointed as officer on special duty by the Vice-Chancellor, with effect from Tuesday.

Interviews for the post of registrar, which fell vacant in October '97 after Subhashchandra Bhosale retired, were postponed indefinitely for the fourth time in two years on October 30 this year, when one of the applicants procured a legal stay on the proceedings. The post of controller of examinations has also remained vacant since July '99.