Gujarat University has suspended 10 temporary officials with immediate effect following allegations of irregularities in their appointments, qualifications and salary structures. The decision was taken on the recommendation of a three-member committee formed after student organisations raised complaints about the appointments.
The suspended officials hold senior positions across several university departments and centres, including the Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC), the Institute of Defence Studies and Research (IDSR), the Centre for Professional Courses (CPC) and other administrative divisions.
The university has said the suspensions will remain in force until further orders and that the final decision will depend on the findings of the ongoing inquiry.
Complaint Led to Three-Member Inquiry Committee
The matter came to the university’s attention after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) submitted a written complaint to the in-charge Vice Chancellor on August 4, alleging violations of University Grants Commission (UGC) rules in temporary appointments.
The allegations relate to appointments made in the Atal Incubation Centre – Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (AIC GUSEC), Centre for Professional Courses (CPC) and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK).
Following the complaint, Gujarat University constituted a three-member committee on August 5 to examine the allegations.
The committee’s initial report recommended that all the temporary employees under question be suspended immediately so that an impartial inquiry could be carried out into their appointments, qualifications and the recruitment process.
University Orders Immediate Suspension
In-charge Vice Chancellor Jagdishkumar Joshi said the university had received representations from student organisations alleging problems in both the appointment process and the pay structure of several temporary officials.
Based on these complaints, the committee recommended the suspension of 10 officials. The university accepted the recommendation and ordered their suspension with immediate effect.
Joshi said that if the investigation establishes that recruitment rules were violated, the concerned officials could eventually be terminated.
The university also plans to seek legal advice and consult the state government if necessary.
The committee’s final report is expected within 10 days, according to the Vice Chancellor.
Who Are the 10 Suspended Officials?
The 10 officials suspended as part of the inquiry are:
Srinivasa Rao Sureddy – Group CEO, GUSEC
Man Singh Rajora – Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Institute of Defence Studies and Research (IDSR)
Biswajit Adhikari – Senior Vice President, AIC GUSEC
Dinesh Kumar – Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Accounts Division
Dr Paavan Pandit – Director, Centre for Professional Courses (CPC) and Director (In-Charge), KS School of Business Management
Chandra Shekhar Jha – Estate Engineer (In-Charge), Estate Department
Dr Raj Chawla – Professor of Practice (POP)
Tusharbhai Trivedi – Legal Officer
Pareshbhai Soni – Fire Officer
Sonal Malhotra – Professor of Practice (POP)
ABVP Raises Questions Over Salaries and Appointments
ABVP has alleged that several temporary appointments were made in violation of rules and that unusually high salaries were paid to some officials, resulting in financial losses for the university.
ABVP Gujarat secretary Devansh Brahmbhatt said the appointments under question were made during the past three years, when Neerja Arun Gupta was Vice Chancellor.
According to the allegations, the annual expenditure on four officials at GUSEC-AIC was earlier around ₹29.40 lakh. This, the organisation claims, later increased to nearly ₹1.05 crore.
The complaint also questioned the salary structure of senior officials, including an alleged payment of around ₹5 lakh per month to the chairman and approximately ₹2.50 lakh per month to another official.
These figures and allegations are now part of the wider scrutiny being undertaken by the university.
Questions Raised Over Several Other Posts
The student organisation has also demanded an investigation into appointments to several other positions, including:
University Engineer
Chief Accounts Officer
Fire Officer
Legal Officer
Director, Centre for Professional Courses
The complaint has additionally sought an independent investigation into recruitment at the Centre for Jain Manuscriptology under PMJVK and the utilisation of government grants.
NSUI Seeks ACB Investigation
The issue has also drawn a demand for an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Narendra Solanki, president of the Gujarat unit of the NSUI, submitted a written complaint to the ACB seeking an inquiry into the alleged appointment irregularities and possible misuse of government funds over the last three years.
While ABVP protested at the Gujarat University’s Vice Chancellor’s office on Friday, NSUI separately called for an ACB probe, particularly into the salaries being paid to the officials and the appointment process.
What Happens Next?
The immediate suspension is not the final outcome of the case. The university’s three-member committee is still examining the appointments, qualifications, recruitment procedures and salary-related issues.
The committee is expected to submit its final report within 10 days. Based on its findings, the university may take further action.
University authorities have made it clear that if violations of recruitment rules are established, the concerned appointments could be terminated. Legal advice and discussions with the state government may also follow if required.
For now, the suspension allows the university to conduct the inquiry without the officials continuing in their respective temporary positions. The final report will determine whether the allegations lead to further disciplinary or legal action.
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