Ahmedabad, Jan 15 (PTI) A senior professor of the Gujarat Vidyapith has been asked to take over as its incharge Vice Chancellor two days before the High Court's deadline for action against VC Rajendra Khimani, who has resigned, based on a University Grants Commission report, sources said on Sunday.

Also Read | Nepal Plane Crash: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Instructs Officials to Bring Mortal Remains of Deceased to State.

Also Read | Delhi Fire: Massive Blaze Erupts at Building in Mundka Area Where 27 People Burnt Alive Last Year (See Pics and Video).

Bharat Joshi, a professor of the Department of Education of the Vidyapith, founded by Mahatma Gandhi, was asked to take charge until the new appointment is made.

Joshi confirmed he received a call regarding the same. He has agreed to take charge on Monday.

The UGC in November 2021 directed the Chancellor of the Vidyapith, a deemed university based in Ahmedabad, to remove Khimani as Vice Chancellor after its inquiry report identified a procedural lapse in his appointment.

There were also certain lapses on Khimani's part in the administrative and financial functioning of the Gujarat Vidyapith as the Registrar between April 1, 2004, to April 30, 2019, the UGC report stated.

Sources said Khimani resigned before the January 17, 2023 deadline set by the Gujarat High Court for the university to pass an appropriate order regarding him.

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat had recently taken over as the new Chancellor of the Vidyapith after former chancellor and social worker Ela Bhatt (now deceased) resigned.

The Gujarat Vidyapith was founded by Mahatma Gandhi on October 18, 1920. He had served as its life-long chancellor.

Stalwarts like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, and Morarji Desai had also worked in the same capacity.

Based on a report constituted to look into Khimani's appointment, the UGC had directed the then Chancellor to remove Khimani with immediate effect.

The UGC had stated failure to comply with its directions would attract penal action in accordance with the UGC Act and Regulations of 2019 including withdrawing of grants.

Khimani had challenged the UGC order in the high court terming it "illegal, arbitrary and in breach of Regulation 10.12.2.E of the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2019.

Rejecting his petition, the HC on September 21, 2022, directed the Vidyapith to follow the due process and pass appropriate orders based on the report of the UGC as per law.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)