Even as Gujarat University (GU) has finally appointed a full-time vice-chancellor, Pruthul Desai, after a six-month gap, three other major state universities continue to operate with in-charge VCs. These include Gujarat Technological University (GTU), the Indian Institute of Teachers’ Education (IITE) and Shree Somnath Sanskrit University in Veraval.
The issue is not limited to the vice-chancellor’s office. As many as six state universities are also functioning without permanent registrars, raising concerns over administrative continuity and institutional functioning.
“Three state universities functioning with in-charge VCs does not paint a good picture. These are not just niche universities but also include PM Narendra Modi’s pet projects. Keeping universities without full-time heads for extended periods often disrupts administration and creates challenges. Universities where both the VC and registrar posts are held by in-charge officials face a different set of challenges,” a senior official said.
Search underway for permanent vice-chancellors
Search committees to identify new vice-chancellors for GTU and IITE were constituted some time ago. However, the status of the search committee for Shree Somnath Sanskrit University remains unclear.
Following the completion of the tenure of its full-time VC, Sukanta Kumar Senapati, Narendrakumar L Pandya is currently serving as the in-charge vice-chancellor.
Registrar vacancies continue
Children’s University recently came under scrutiny following a controversy in which its in-charge registrar was abruptly removed and the registrar’s office was locked overnight.
In the absence of a permanent registrar, the university has assigned the additional responsibility to one of its professors. However, the problem extends beyond Children’s University, with several government universities in Gujarat reportedly operating without permanent registrars.
Officials familiar with the developments said that despite offers of higher salaries, the registrar’s post has failed to attract suitable candidates, forcing the Education Department to appoint in-charge officials.
Gujarat University recently advertised the registrar’s post and invited applications, but the selection process was subsequently put on hold.
Universities without permanent registrars
- Gujarat University
- Teachers University
- Children’s University
- Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University
- Vallabh Vidyanagar University
- MS University (functioning with an in-charge registrar)
Suggested headlines
- Three Gujarat universities run without full-time VCs, six lack permanent registrars
- Gujarat universities face leadership vacuum as VC, registrar posts remain vacant
- In-charge VCs, registrars continue at several Gujarat universities