Principal’s dismissal: Gujarat HC asks tribunal to explain lacunae

The Gujarat high court has asked Gujarat Affiliated Colleges Tribunal (GACT) to explain certain lacunae in proceedings of a case pertaining to dismissal of a college principal.
Justice MR Shah of the high court on Monday asked the in-charge registrar of GACT to explain how the matter could be taken up for hearing by the member of the tribunal without being notified.

GACT has been constituted to address the grievances of the teaching staff of colleges affiliated to various universities in the state. At present, Krupa Trivedi is acting as a member of the tribunal.

As per case details, Vijay H Trivedi, principal of Science College, Khambhat, was removed from his post on account of poor performance. Trivedi challenged his dismissal in the tribunal, which also upheld his dismissal. Trivedi later filed a petition in the high court challenging the tribunal order.

Advocate Mukund Desai appearing on behalf of Vijay Trivedi submitted that the tribunal had reportedly pronounced the judgment on August 25, 2009 but when he enquired in the tribunal office he was told that the judgment had not been pronounced. He also submitted that there was no mention about the proceedings of the hearing in the tribunal record.

The high court has directed GACT’s member concerned  well as in-charge registrar Satish Kapadia to submit the explanation by October 8, 2009.  The court also stated that “it appears that the last date of the proceedings was August 20, 2009. It is to be noted that the judgment was delivered by the tribunal on August 25, 2009 and in there is no mention with respect to the proceedings.”