Ahmedabad: With the three-year tenure of Gujarat University vice-chancellor Neerja Gupta ending on Tuesday, the state govt made an announcement late in the night, appointing senior professor Jagdish Joshi as the in-charge vice-chancellor and ending speculation over who would hold the post next.Typically, as per norms, the process to appoint a new vice-chancellor begins three to six months in advance with the formation of a search committee. However, the delay in constituting the committee fuelled discussions that Gupta could be given an extension. Even as the final day of Gupta’s tenure passed without clarity, uncertainty prevailed in academic circles.Contrary to the usual practice of announcing such decisions by early evening on the outgoing VC’s last day, the govt took additional time before finalising the appointment. The education department made the official declaration around 9pm.Jagdish Joshi, a senior professor associated with the university’s Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC) will hold the responsibility until further orders or for a maximum period of 12 months. He had previously served in the same capacity for a brief period in Oct 2023.
