Pune: The appointment of Dr. Ajit Ranade as Vice-Chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics has sparked significant controversy.
GIPE Chancellor, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, issued a show-cause notice to Dr. Ranade on June 27, 2024, citing serious allegations including misconduct and appointment-related fraud.
The notice accuses Dr. Ranade of fraudulent practices concerning the eligibility criteria at the time of his appointment, withholding critical information, and misrepresenting facts to both the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Maharashtra government.
Additionally, Dr. Ranade is alleged to have created unnecessary positions within the institution, leading to significant financial misconduct. These actions have purportedly resulted in reputational damage and financial loss for the Gokhale Institute.
Dr. Ranade was given two weeks to respond, and he has since submitted his reply to the Chancellor. In a further twist, it has been revealed that Dr. Ranade may have played a role in his appointment, raising concerns about a conflict of interest.
According to UGC regulations, a Vice-Chancellor should have ten years of professorial experience, a requirement Dr. Ranade does not meet. Prior to his appointment, he was a member of the Gokhale Institute's management council, and the selection of members for the Vice-Chancellor search and selection committee was conducted under his signature.
This information was brought to light by former employee Murali Krishna through the Right to Information Act, as highlighted by student activist Nilesh Padekar. Padekar also raised ethical questions regarding Dr. Ranade's position as an independent director at Persistent Systems.
Student unions have also voiced their opposition, staging a protest on July 12. They claimed Dr. Ranade's appointment was illegal and warned that the Gokhale Institute's status as a deemed university is under threat. The unions accused the administration of compromising students' academic interests and announced plans to seek legal action in the High Court.
Responding to the allegations, Dr. Ranade stated, "All allegations against me are completely baseless. My appointment was done transparently, adhering to all rules and standards. All necessary responses have been provided to the statutory authorities."