Gujarat Vidyapith asks 60 staff members on contract to move out of campus by May 31
The staffers, including peons and clerks — a majority of whom are in the Group C category working on a contract basis, have been living on the campus some for over 40 years.
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In an unprecedented move, Gujarat Vidyapith, in a first, has issued eviction notices to more than 60 contractual non-teaching staff members to vacate their residential quarters on the university campus by May 31.
Citing rules, the university, set up by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, stated that no official accommodation can be provided by Gujarat Vidyapith to the contractual staff members. “According to the rules, Gujarat Vidyapuith cannot provide accommodation to contractual staff members,” Vice-Chancellor Prof Bharat Joshi told The Indian Express.
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The staffers, including peons and clerks — a majority of whom are in the Group C category working on a contract basis, have been living on the campus some for over 40 years.
They were allotted official accommodation or quarters from 2007 — when the contractual appointments were put in place — until 2018. Prior to 2007, they were regular staff.
Sources revealed that some of the staff members are second-generation employees at the Vidyapith and hence, the families have been living on the campus for more than 40 years.
However, authorities also claimed that some allotments were also done by the previous administration to those who were not eligible.
The decision to evict contractual staffers was taken in the very first meeting for the academic year 2023-24 of the Gujarat Vidyapith Mandal or Board of Trust held on April 20 under the chairmanship of Chancellor and Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat. The meeting, held at the Gujarat Vidyapith Mandal office, had 18 members in attendance, including the newly appointed trustees.
A resolution was passed to review the rent of properties and also to start the process “to get back the possession of residential and non-residential properties allotted or taken into possession against the rules or unauthorised allottment”.
Some of these residential quarters are stated to be in dilapidated conditions and would be repaired on an urgent basis.
“Out of these 60 quarters, only 20-25 are in good condition. The remaining are not in good condition and requires repairs and maintenance,” Prof Joshi added.
Since the contractual staff members do not have the HRA component, they were charged a nominal rent of Rs 140 per month.
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The eviction notice is the latest in a slew of rapid changes witnessed at Gujarat Vidyapith, which was facing questions over its processes and its status as a deemed-to-be university.
Ritu Sharma is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express' Gujarat bureau, an editorial position that reflects her experience and Authority in regional journalism. With over a decade of concentrated reporting experience, she is a highly Trustworthy and specialized journalist, especially noted for her Expertise in the education sector across Gujarat and previously Chandigarh.
Expertise
Primary Authority (Education): With over ten years of dedicated reporting on education in both Gujarat and Chandigarh, Ritu Sharma is a foremost authority on educational policy, institutional governance, and ground realities from "KG to PG." Her coverage includes:
Higher Education: In-depth scrutiny of top institutions like IIM-Ahmedabad (controversies over demolition/restoration of heritage architecture), IIT-Bombay (caste discrimination issues), and new initiatives like international branch campuses in GIFT City.
Schooling & Policy: Detailed coverage of government schemes (Gyan Sadhana School Voucher Scheme), the implementation and impact of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, teacher recruitment issues, and the impact of national policies like the NEP.
Student Welfare: Reporting on critical issues such as suicide allegations due to caste discrimination, and the challenges faced by students (e.g., non-delivery of NAMO tablets). ... Read More
