Manoj Soni among front-runners for SP Universitys top job

The vice-chancellor of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU),Manoj Soni,is reported to be among the front-runners for the top job of the prestigious Sardar Patel University (SPU),

The vice-chancellor of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU),Manoj Soni,is reported to be among the front-runners for the top job of the prestigious Sardar Patel University (SPU),sources in the state education department said.

Soni had earlier also served as V-C of MS University of Baroda. While Soni could not be contacted despite several attempts,professor Anamik Shah,head of three-member search committee set up by the state government to suggest suitable candidates for the post of V-C,said names of 21 candidates had been received by the committee. Other members of the panel are well-known Gujarat High Court advocate Devang Nanavati and Ahmedabad-based industrialist Gitesh Shah.

Anamik Shah said the meeting to shortlist the three names for recommending them to the government was scheduled on July 6,but was postponed because one of the committee members expressed his inability to attend it due to some urgency.

I have now asked the two members to give a suitable date,said Anamik Shah,adding that he wanted the meeting to be held as early as possible.

The government would select one of the three names shortlisted by the panel and send it to states Governor for appointment. The hunt for a new V-C for SPU began after the term of Harish Padh expired on June 30. Padh was expecting another term of three years after a three-year extension was granted to Akshai Aggarwal,Gujarat Technological Universitys (GTU) V-C.

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