Controversy Erupts Over Appointment of Chemistry Professor as Head of English Department

Controversial Appointment at Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University

A recent decision by Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University has sparked significant debate after a professor from the Chemistry Department was appointed as the Head of the English Department.

This controversial move has not only caused unrest within the university but has also led to legal proceedings, with the court raising pointed inquiries regarding the administration's decision.

The situation unfolded following the retirement of Adesh Pal, the former Head of the English Department, in June 2025. Subsequently, Kokilaben Parmar, a faculty member from the Chemistry Department, was appointed to lead the English Department. This decision was met with resistance from Hetal Patel, an English faculty member, who contested the appointment before the Education Tribunal.

University's Defense in Court

In response to the appointment of a Chemistry professor as the Head of the English Department, the university's attorney, Meet Shah, argued that the seniority of English faculty had not been established. He emphasized that Kokilaben Parmar was assigned only administrative duties and not academic responsibilities. The university maintained that this was a temporary administrative measure and not a service matter, thus claiming the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction over the case.

Tribunal and High Court Involvement

On October 10, 2025, the Education Tribunal issued a stay on the university's decision. In response, Kokilaben Parmar appealed to the High Court, asserting that the Tribunal had acted without hearing her perspective. A week later, the High Court suspended the Tribunal's order, while the university also contested the Tribunal's ruling in the High Court.

Judicial Scrutiny

During a hearing on Tuesday, Justice Nirzar Desai posed challenging questions to the university, inquiring how a professor of chemistry could comprehend the academic challenges faced by students of English literature. The university struggled to provide a satisfactory response, reiterating that the acting Head of Department's role was confined to administrative tasks. The court further questioned the efficacy of an HOD lacking subject expertise in assisting students. In light of this, the university proposed a draft order to appoint a faculty member from the English Department as the acting HOD instead of Kokilaben Parmar. However, they indicated that immediate changes could not be made due to the High Court's stay order. Hetal Patel raised objections regarding the proposed faculty member's name, citing seniority regulations. Ultimately, Kokilaben Parmar and the university withdrew their petitions, with the High Court allowing Hetal Patel to challenge the new appointment through the appropriate legal channels.