Gujarat University suspends 10 temporary employees over recruitment irregularities after ABVP protest

Ahmedabad: Ten temporary employees of the city-based Gujarat University, including some senior officials, have been suspended on the recommendation of an inquiry committee looking into allegations of irregularities in their appointment. The decision came amid a protest by the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) against the decision to hire them, allegedly taken by then Vice Chancellor Nirja Gupta.

These persons were paid excessively high salaries which caused a financial loss to the varsity, the student organisation has claimed. In-charge Vice Chancellor Jagdish Joshi said that he received complaints that established procedures were not followed while appointing these persons. "We constituted a three-member committee. It unanimously recommended that the ten employees be suspended to facilitate a neutral and impartial inquiry," he said.

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Among those suspended were the Group CEO of Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council Srinivasa Rao Sureddi, CEO of the Institute of Defence Studies and Research Foundation (IDSRF) Man Singh Rajora, and Senior Vice President of Atal Incubation Centre Biswajit Adhikari. Further action will be taken based on the committee's report, in consultation with the government and after obtaining legal advice, said Joshi.

The committee will also give its opinion on whether the higher salaries paid to these employees were in accordance with the rules. On Friday, ABVP members staged sit-ins at the Vice Chancellor's office, demanding the resignation of 'illegally recruited' employees.