VNSGU teachers threaten agitation for confirmation

Surat: Awaiting confirmation of their jobs even after three years of appointment, 14 teachers of various departments in Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) have announced that they will resort to protest with the support of eminent educationalists of south Gujarat, seeking justice if the issue does not get resolved soon.
They have also written letters to the governor, chief minister, deputy CM, education minister and the higher education commissioner claiming that their probation period which as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines should have ended in a year after appointment has been extended thrice since 2019 for six month period.
“As per VNSGU rules if no inquiry is ordered against any university teacher or no notice has been served within two years of appointment the teacher automatically gets confirmed. But the varsity has been extending their probation,” said Sanjay Desai, a syndicate member, who added that he has raised the issue multiple times to the university, and the appellate authorities.
University had formed a three-member inquiry committee comprising C N Patel, principal of chemistry department at Sarvajanik Pharmacy College, Mehsana, V B Babariya, retired professor from Ahmedabad and Pruthul Desai, principal of P T Sarvajanik College of Science, Surat, which is yet to submit its report.
“Inquiry over false charges has been ordered against us by the vice-chancellor without taking approval from the university syndicate. Yet, when we went to submit our reply to the committee, only one member was present,” one of the aggrieved teachers alleged.
Issue of 10 other teachers too is gaining momentum. “Confirmation of these 10 teachers appointed three years ago has not been done by the varsity despite their completion of probation period,” said Ganpat Dhameliya, senate member.
Some of these teachers have also approached different courts seeking their regular appointment. These teachers were appointed during term of previous vice-chancellor and they are now being victimised to settle political score between different groups at the university, sources in university informed.
Despite multiple attempts VNSGU vice-chancellor Shivendra Gupta was not available for comments.