Gujarat University, Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad: Gujarat University in charge vice-chancellor Jagdish Joshi has constituted a one-member inquiry committee headed by retired High Court judge D M Vyas to probe allegations of financial irregularities, recruitment malpractices and misuse of authority during former VC Neerja Gupta’s tenure.
The decision to appoint a former judge aims to ensure an independent investigation under the Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023 and Uniform Statutes, 2024, following claims of bias surrounding an earlier syndicate panel. The university had reportedly received Rs 40 crore under PMJVK. NSUI alleged that Rs 9.8 lakh from the grant was transferred as foreign exchange to a German bank account linked to Gupta’s son.
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The original panel comprised Bhavesh Bharwad from the law department, a professor from IQAC, and a third member, according to GU sources. It also alleged that Gupta drew an additional monthly remuneration of around Rs 4.2 lakh as a “principal investigator” while serving as vice-chancellor and receiving a regular salary, allegedly without the required syndicate approval. The VC then reconstituted the panel by replacing two original members with syndicate members Hiren Jadav and Smita Shah. The single-member committee will investigate alleged back-door appointments of professors, unnecessary utilisation of university funds and alleged diversion of Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) grants. The committee will evaluate the financial loss and submit its report within three months, after which administrative, recovery or criminal proceedings may follow. The allegations remain subject to inquiry and have not been established by authorities at present. Download the TOI App.
The earlier three-member panel was formed after student organisations alleged that retired officials had been appointed to accounts, GUSEC and estate on hefty pay packages. In a social media post on Thursday, Gupta questioned the impartiality of the panel, stating that two members were pre-biased against her and could not conduct a fair probe.