Pune: A governance dispute has escalated at Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) in Pune after trustees removed Tuesday economist Sanjeev Sanyal as chancellor, replacing him with Bombay HC’s ex-judge SC Dharmadhikari, reports Ardhra Nair.
Interim VC Shankar Das challenged the decision Thursday, calling it a violation of UGC regulations. In a letter to GIPE’s parent organisation Servants of India Society, Das declared any appointment replacing Sanyal “null and void”. Justice Dharmadhikari confirmed his appointment, saying he accepted it “with humility for an opportunity to serve such a renowned institution”. Sanyal, a member of EAC to the PM, did not respond to calls or messages.
Sanyal accused of inaction over GIPE’s ‘declining credentials’
Sanjeev Sanyal had served as chancellor for less than six months. His removal marks another turn in GIPE’s recent shake-ups. He took over in Oct 2024 after Bibek Debroy resigned amid tension over the appointment of former VC Ajit Ranade. Debroy had attempted to terminate Ranade, a move later reversed by Sanyal. Ranade resigned in Nov 2024, leading to Das’s appointment as interim VC.
The trustees said the latest controversy stemmed from Das allegedly bypassing procedures in faculty and staff recruitment. “The interim VC issued appointments without forming a proper selection committee,” said an SIS trustee. “When we asked Sanyal to review these irregularities, there was no response. Registrar Kapil Jodh opposed these appointments and Das terminated him Wednesday.”
SIS president Damodar Sahoo accused Sanyal of inaction in a letter Wednesday, citing GIPE’s declining credentials, including its downgrade to a ‘B’ grade in NAAC accreditation. “We are pained to see GIPE’s decline. There is no concrete plan of action from you,” Sahoo wrote, justifying the need for a new chancellor to restore the institute’s standing.
Das wrote back the following day, saying UGC regulations stipulate a chancellor’s five-year tenure and do not outline a removal process. He urged SIS to retract the decision to prevent legal complications. GIPE’s officiating deputy registrar Vishal Gaikwad backed Das, confirming that “all recruitments at the institute have been advertised and due process followed”. He dismissed allegations against Das as false and insisted Sanyal remains chancellor.
