High Court issues notice to SPU on appointment

ANAND, April 21: Gujarat High Court has issued a notice to Sardar Patel University (SPU) on the appointment of former registrar K M Patel as...

ANAND, April 21: Gujarat High Court has issued a notice to Sardar Patel University (SPU) on the appointment of former registrar K M Patel as Officer On Special Duty (OSD) by the vice-chancellor. The matter has been fixed for hearing on May 5.

According to informed sources, the petitioner SPU estate engineer Narottambhai Patel had claimed that he was supposed to get the charge of the post on retirement of K M Patel as he is senior most officer of the SPU.But Narottambhai Patel, the sources said is facing inquiry for `gross irregularities’ which he had allegedly committed as an estate engineer and

hence was not given the appointment.

K M Patel was to retire on March 31, but the university Syndicate decided `to give him extension of one year in the interest of the university work’. The university sought the government’s approval on the decision.

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As the government approval was awaited, the SPU Syndicate which met on March 30, authorities the vice-chancellor S V Patel to take appropriate action on the issue.

The Vice-Chancellor gave the charge of the post to Harish Desai, deputy registrar and appointed K M Patel on a newly created post of Officer on Special Duty (OSD), sources said.

In the March 30 meeting of the Syndicate, the decision to continue K M Patel was opposed by only two members and the decision was passed with a majority vote. A one-man committee, appointment by the Syndicate, is probing into the alleged irregularities against estate engineer Narottambhai Patel.