Ahmedabad: Gujarat University’s in-charge vice-chancellor Jagdish Joshi has constituted a one-member inquiry committee headed by retired High Court judge D M Vyas to examine allegations of financial irregularities, irregular recruitments and misuse of authority during the tenure of former vice-chancellor Neerja Gupta, university sources said.
Scope and statutory basis of the probe
The inquiry has been established under provisions of the Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023 and the university’s Uniform Statutes, 2024, the administration said. The single-member panel will review claims of back-door appointments of faculty and officials, alleged unnecessary or improper utilisation of university funds, and possible diversion of grants intended for specific development projects.
According to university documents seen by this correspondent, the panel will also examine complaints related to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) grant received by Gujarat University. The university reportedly obtained ₹40 crore under PMJVK during the period under review.
Allegations under inquiry
- Alleged back-door or otherwise irregular appointments to academic and administrative positions, including retired officials placed on substantial pay packages.
- Claims of diversion or improper transfer of PMJVK funds, including a specific allegation that ₹9.8 lakh was transferred as foreign exchange to a German bank account linked to the former VC’s son.
- Allegation that the former VC drew an additional monthly remuneration of around ₹4.2 lakh as a "principal investigator" while concurrently receiving the VC salary, allegedly without syndicate approval.
"Two members were pre-biased against her and could not conduct a fair probe," the former vice-chancellor said in a social media post when questioning the impartiality of a previous panel.
The current action follows earlier attempts to set up a three-member syndicate committee after complaints from student bodies and other stakeholders. The first panel reportedly comprised Bhavesh Bharwad from the law department, a professor from the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and a third member. That panel was later reconstituted when two of the original members were replaced with syndicate representatives Hiren Jadav and Smita Shah, prompting objections by the former VC.
Timeframe and possible outcomes
The D M Vyas-led committee has been asked to complete the inquiry and submit its findings within three months. The university administration said that depending on the committee’s conclusions, administrative action, recovery proceedings or criminal referrals may follow. The allegations are currently under investigation and have not been established by any authority, the statement added.
| Allegation | Reported amount / detail |
|---|---|
| PMJVK grant received by university | ₹40 crore |
| Alleged transfer to foreign account | ₹9.8 lakh (alleged) |
| Alleged additional monthly remuneration to former VC | Approximately ₹4.2 lakh per month as "principal investigator" (alleged) |
Local impact and governance context
The inquiry comes amid heightened scrutiny of governance practices at public universities in Gujarat and elsewhere, where questions over appointments, use of funds and adherence to statutory procedures have been recurring issues. For Gujarat University — one of the state’s largest and most prominent higher education institutions — findings against senior administrators could have implications for ongoing projects, grant utilisation and confidence among students and faculty.
Student organisations and campus groups had previously flagged concerns about appointments and pay packages for retired officials being placed in roles such as accounts, the Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC) and the estate department. Those protests were among the triggers for the first syndicate panel to be formed.
The administration has said the new, single-member inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge aims to ensure independence and impartiality in the process, responding to the former VC’s objections to the composition of the earlier committee.
The university did not immediately provide further comment on the inquiry terms or any interim measures taken to safeguard accounts and ongoing projects. The allegations and administrative responses will remain under review until the committee submits its report.
