Gujarat Vidyapith: Appointment of in-charge Vice Chancellor after High Court's instructions, Professor Bharat Joshi will take charge

A senior professor from Gujarat Vidyapith has been asked to take over as its Vice-Chancellor-in-charge. Based on a report of the University Grants Commission, the High Court had ordered the Vidyapeeth to appoint its Vice-Chancellor before January 17 to take action against Vice-Chancellor Rajendra Khimani, who resigned. After this Professor Bharat Joshi of the education department of the university established by Mahatma Gandhi has asked to take charge till the new appointment is made. Joshi confirmed that he had received a call regarding the same. He has agreed to take charge on Monday.

The UGC had in November 2021 directed the removal of Khimani, Vice-Chancellor of Vidyapeeth, a deemed university in Ahmedabad, from the post after an inquiry report found a procedural lapse in his appointment. There were also some lapses on the part of Khimani in the administrative and financial functioning of Gujarat Vidyapeeth as Registrar between April 1, 2004, and April 30, 2019, the UGC report said.

Sources said Khimani resigned before the January 17, 2023 deadline set by the university for the Gujarat High Court to pass an appropriate order in his regard. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat had recently taken over as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Vidyapith after the resignation of former Vice-Chancellor and social activist Ela Bhatt (now late).

Based on a report constituted to look into Khimani's appointment, the UGC had directed the then Chancellor to remove Khimani with immediate effect. The UGC had said that failure to comply with its directions would invite penal action, including withdrawal of grants, as per the UGC Act and Regulations of 2019.

Khimani had challenged the UGC order in the High Court terming it "illegal, arbitrary and in violation of Regulation 10.12.2.e of the UGC (Deemed to be University) Regulations, 2019". Dismissing his plea, the High Court on September 21, 2022, directed the Vidyapeeth to follow due process and pass appropriate orders based on the UGC report following the law.

Explain that Gujarat Vidyapeeth was established on October 18, 1920, by Mahatma Gandhi. He served as its chancellor for life. Veterans like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, and Morarji Desai also served in the same capacity.

Also Read: UGC Draft: What are the rules for opening campuses of foreign universities in the country and why are they being opposed?