Latest news with #NeerjaGupta
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
'Save Gujarat University' protest amid corruption allegations, students seek audit
Members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), former syndicate members, and former students, are staging protests amid allegations of large-scale corruption at Gujarat University. The protesters, carrying posters and beating drums, accused the administration of irregularities in projects like the Rifle Club, Tennis Court, Convention Center, and Food Court. They have launched a "Save Gujarat University" campaign.A heavy police presence was deployed on campus as demonstrators sat outside Vice Chancellor Neerja Gupta's office, raising slogans and demanding an audit. They have given the VC a 72-hour ultimatum to act, including filing FIRs against those syndicate member Indravijay Singh Gohil alleged that Gupta had broken a fixed deposit of Rs 150 crore out of the university's Rs 240 crore reserve for the first time in its history. He also claimed that the VC was appointing retired ONGC employees, allegedly linked to her husband, on salaries ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 further alleged that a syndicate member had demanded Rs 75 lakh from a university head of department, and that there was a recording of the incident. He accused the university of handing over facilities to private agencies without tenders, citing the convention center renovation cost of Rs 35 crore—more than its original construction cost of Rs 30 crore—as an also questioned why academy receipts for the tennis court were issued under a private name, with the university taking only 30 per cent of the Congress chief spokesperson, Manish Doshi, backed the protesters, saying corruption had increased after the implementation of the University Act. "Land is being given to private agencies without tender. FIRs must be filed and an independent audit conducted so that the truth comes out," he Chancellor Neerja Gupta rejected all allegations. She said the university had acted within four days on the Rs 75 lakh bribe matter by securing the resignation of the syndicate member involved. However, she noted that the FIR will have to be filed by those from whom the money was the fixed deposit claim, Gupta said it was false and that "proof will be given" showing the fixed deposit amount remains denied handing over the sports academy to a private agency, explaining that tenders were invited but no bidders came forward, so the university runs it with outside coaching support. "70 percent of tennis court earnings go to coaching and maintenance; the remaining 30 percent goes to the university," she clarified that the convention center had been converted into Dhanvantri Hospital during Covid-19 and was now being restored as a convention hall at a cost of Rs 35 lakh, not Rs 35 crore. She dismissed the Rifle Club allegations as "AI-generated misinformation" and denied any Rs 5 lakh membership standoff continues, with protesters insisting on swift action and the university administration standing by its denials.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Gujarat
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
GU to discontinue MSW programme, School of Commerce class timings changed
The Gujarat University's (GU's) Executive Council (EC) on Thursday decided to discontinue its Master of Social Work (MSW) programme, which was running on Higher Payment Programme (HPP) mode, stating that the course was not being taught as per prescribed guidelines. As per university authorities, among other major decisions taken by the Executive Council, which met for two hours from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Neerja Gupta, were change of timing for School of Commerce classes from afternoon shift to morning shift; filling of 50 vacant seats in postgraduate courses, including Science, Commerce, Arts by contractual teachers till permanent appointments are done; Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) for promotion to be held as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines. GU had sought a legal opinion and based on it, it decided to close the programme. 'The Higher Payment Programme (HPP) for the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree offered at the university's Samaj Vidya Bhavan is not being taught as per the prescribed guidelines. So a decision has been taken to close it, based on legal opinion,' university authorities told this paper. It was a self-financed programme under the Department of Social Work established in 2013 designed to be self-sufficient on a higher fee than standard programmes. Sources revealed that the University might consider to relaunch the programme, but not as HPP. Further, it was decided that a special committee will be formed to investigate into various matters, including the appointment of suspended Assistant Prof Vanrajsinh Chavda. Earlier, retired Prof Pradeep Prajapati, a former professor of GU, had submitted a written complaint regarding the appointment of Prof Chavda, following which disciplinary action was taken against him. GU V-C Gupta stated that the EC has approved lateral entry courses, including Science, Commerce, Arts, as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. In addition, students studying in the second semester of other universities have been allowed to enter the third semester of GU. For the School of Commerce, classes were being run in the afternoon shift, till 6pm. Students had demanded for a change of timing, for them to be free for other programmes or jobs.
