GU account officer Minesh Shah’s reinstatement sparks row again

Shah,who had been embroiled in a controversy over allegations that he did not possess the required qualifications for the job,was reinstated on September 6 this year by university’s executive council,the highest decision making body of the varsity.

An official of the state Education Department has confirmed that his office has received Prajapati’s complaint sent from the Governor’s office in this regard. But all he said in response to all quarries in this connection was,“We are looking into it.”

Prajapati has sought implementation of an order issued by the state education department on May 31,2012,that had directed the management of the university to remove Shah from the post of CAO. Prajpati,who had been running a campaign against Shah since 2010,had,in his complaints before the authorities,quoted varsity rules,under which Shah was not qualified for the job.

After his complaint in 2010,the state government appointed a committee to look into the allegations against Shah. The committee,which submitted its report in May 2011,reportedly found substance in Prajapati’s complaint. The state education department subsequently issued an order to the then vice-chancellor Parimal Trivedi on May 31,2012,asking him to take action against Shah within 15 days. But Trivedi kept delaying the matter.

Subsequently on May 29, 2013,Shah was removed from his post by Trivedi’s successor Adesh Pal.

However,Pal had to face the wrath of several politicians over some of his controversial decisions and was subsequently forced to resign. After Pal quit office,most of the decisions taken by him were reversed. The latest instance of that was reinstatement of Shah.

When questioned about Shah’s reinstatement,a senior official of the Gujarat University said: “It is not an administrative order. It was a decision taken unanimously by the executive committee.”