Govt considers step against PVC

GANDHINAGAR, Nov 18: Irked by the leading role played by Pro-Vice-Chancellor K S Shastri in leading demonstrations against Gujarat Universit...

GANDHINAGAR, Nov 18: Irked by the leading role played by Pro-Vice-Chancellor K S Shastri in leading demonstrations against Gujarat University Vice-Chancellor S B Vora8217;s dismissal, the State Government is seriously considering action against Shastri, even as Raj Bhavan was learnt to have issued a private circular on VCs8217; foreign tours.

Sources in Education Department told Express Newsline that Governor Anshuman Singh, also the chancellor of universities, had forwarded the various complaints he had received to the government.

The government had also directed the Home Department to monitor Shastri8217;s activities, including his direct or indirect participation in agitations, and file daily reports, sources said, copies of which would be sent to the chief minister and the governor.

Both Raj Bhavan and the government are reported to have taken a serious view of certain 8220;uncharitable remarks8221; Shastri made in his address at a dharna he led on Monday. He allegedly said that, 8220;The seat of power in Gandhinagar has become a centre of fascist activities and we all must oppose the wrongful dismissal8221;.

A large section of the BJP government believes that the root cause of all the 8220;ills and chaos plaguing GU8217; is Shastri, who is cleverly using the Vora episode to embarrass the government and the governor.

The PVC is president of the Gujarat University Area Teachers8217; Association and wields tremendous clout among academicians and students.

Meanwhile, Raj Bhavan has issued a circular in the State, seeking certain details from any vice-chancellors desiring to go abroad.

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The 8220;confidential8221; circular issued to the universities and Education Department mentions, among other things, that a vice-chancellor will have to obtain political clearance from External Affairs Ministry AMS Division for any official or academic visit abroad.

The Government had dismissed Vora on the ground that he had failed to obtain political clearance from the Ministry before he went abroad last November.

Incidentally, Raj Bhavan issued the circular this July 3, more than three months before Vora was dismissed on November 9.