Controversy surrounds appointment of Manan Dani to GU executive council

The Gujarat University (GU), based in Ahmedabad, recently appointed Manan Dani as a nominee member of the Executive Council representing the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). However, this appointment has come under scrutiny, with allegations that it was made without the knowledge or consent of the GCCI.

In a letter to GU, the GCCI stated that they did not send any nominations for the position. This has raised questions about the legitimacy of the appointment and its adherence to established protocols.

The Executive Council of GU was formed on November 6, 2023, under the Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023. Out of the 22 positions, only 11 members were initially appointed, leaving 50% of the seats vacant. Recently, GU Vice Chancellor Dr Neerja Gupta exercised her authority to appoint two additional members.

Manan Dani, who currently holds a position in the BJP’s IT cell, was appointed as the GCCI representative on the council.

Reacting to this, GCCI’s additional secretary-general wrote to GU, clarifying that they had not nominated anyone for the Executive Council. The letter urged GU to send a nomination to GCCI for the position, which would then be forwarded to GU for consideration.

Following this correspondence, reports have emerged indicating that a council meeting was recently held at GU, where this contentious issue was discussed in detail.