Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, Nov 10: Even as various organisations condemned the dismissal of Gujarat University Vice Chancellor S.B. Vora, the state government on Tuesday defended its action, saying it wanted to ``set an example'' given Vora's indiscipline and disobedience, which was ``proved in an inquiry''.
Meanwhile Vora has moved Gujarat High Court against the government decision and the matter is likely to come for hearing on Wednesday. The state government has file a caveat in the matter.
The termination notice was issued to Vora at 9 p.m. on Monday night and a notice of termination was also sent to registrar M.P. Jadia around the same time.
Among the reasons for the dismissal are his not taking permission for attending a meeting of vice-chancellors in Thailand in November 1997, not taking political clearance, committing misconduct and misdemeanour, and failing to answer a show cause notice adequately.
But university sources said that the registrar had answered the queries raised by the government when Vora had sought the then Governor's permission to travel to Bangkok.
The queries raised were if political clearance was obtained, who was bearing the expenses, and whether Vora was traveling on a personal or official passport.
The registrar replied to the letter prior to Vora's visit, stating that since vice-chancellors are not government employees they did not need political clearance, and that he only had a personal passport. The expenses were borne by the University Grants Commission.
The government claims to have served two notices to Vora. The first one was served in July 1998 when the new BJP government came to power and there was a new Governor Anshuman Singh in office. The notice was issued for last year's trip.
Vora gave a written explanation and even met them personally, said Pro Vice-Chancellor K S Shastri. In August 1997, when Vora was invited for a Commonwealth Vice-Chancellors Conference he again sought permission but since the Governor had refused him permission in writing, Vora did not go.
Two other Gujarat Vice-Chancellors N.R. Dave of North Gujarat University and V.S. Patel of Sardar Patel University were granted permission to attend.
The state government has in a press release stated that the Vora was given enough time and opportunity to give an explanation to the charges against him. They have also stated that Vora was dismissed after permission was sought and given by the governor. The government says charge of the university has not been given to the pro vice-chancellor as is usually done since there were over 40 complaints against him which were being investigated. They also stated that Shastri had already completed two terms as vice-chancellor.
Gujarat University employees staged a silent dharna on the Tuesday morning in protest against the state government decision.
Shastri said that the action taken by the government was very bad and that in the history of all the universities of Gujarat no Vice-Chancellor had ever taken political clearance from the government. Another former Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University M N Desai said that during his tenure he had never sought political clearance for travelling.
Dean of Commerce faculty D.M. Sikh said that there was no provision in Gujarat University Act for dismissal of a vice-chancellor and that since Vora was not a government employee, action against him could not be taken under the Bombay General Clauses Act, section 16, since this act was for government employees. Several organisations have condemned the government action, they include Gujarat University Employees Non-Teaching Staff, Sanskrit Adhyapak Mandal and University teachers. Meanwhile Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarti Parishad (ABVP) and All India Students Organisation (AISO) have welcomed the government decision.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------