New search committee to be formed for Vidyapith VC post

New search committee to be formed for Vidyapith VC post

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:19.12.2020

After a controversy erupted over the appointment of a new vicechancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith, questions are being raised about the appointment of the members in the selection committee itself.

This committee, entrusted with identifying the next vice-chancellor, flouted some rules in the appointment of its members. The controversy comes as the varsity, founded by Mahatma Gandhi, is in its 100th year.

The four-member selection committee appointed by Vidyapith trustees consisted of only three members and the fourth member, to be nominated by the University Grants Commission (UGC), had not been brought on board, sources in Gujarat Vidyapith said.

“The UGC has now ordered a new search committee to be formed,” a source said.

Questions are also being raised on whether the current members were appointed legally.

The selection committee had recently recommended the name of former Vidyapith registrar, Rajendra Khimani, for the vice chancellor’s post. The term of the present vicechancellor, Anamik Shah, ends on December 31.

There is growing uncertainty over the candidature of Khimani and whether he can take charge as the new VC on January 1, or if the appointment is challenged, can he re-apply for the post. The next available option is to select the next best candidate of the three names that were initially proposed, sources said.