HNGU Appoints Chemistry Expert for Periodic Table-Shakespeare Initiative

Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University (HNGU) recently faced backlash for appointing a chemistry professor as the head of its English department. This controversial decision led to legal challenges and intense scrutiny regarding academic qualifications.

Background of the Appointment

The situation arose following the retirement of Adesh Pal, the former Head of the English Department, in June 2022. After his departure, HNGU appointed Kokilaben Parmar, a faculty member from the chemistry department, as the in-charge head of English.

Legal Challenges and Court Proceedings

Hetal Patel, an English faculty member, contested this appointment by turning to the Education Tribunal. Patel argued that the university’s decision overlooked the established rules regarding faculty seniority.

• Date of former HOD’s retirement: June 2022
• Date of tribunal’s stay order: October 10, 2025

Meet Shah, the university’s advocate, claimed that Parmar’s role was intended solely for administrative purposes. He also challenged the basis of Patel’s complaint by asserting that it was an administrative decision, not a service matter.

High Court’s Involvement

Following the tribunal’s decision to stay the chemistry faculty’s appointment, Parmar sought relief from the high court, arguing she was not properly consulted prior to the stay. The high court temporarily lifted the tribunal’s order, further complicating the issue for the university.

Questions from the Court

Justice Nirzar Desai raised pointed questions regarding how a chemistry expert could manage academic issues related to English literature. The court criticized the university’s inability to justify its decision during the proceedings.

New Developments and Conclusion

On a recent Friday, HNGU proposed to replace Parmar with Tapal Chakrabarty, a member of the English faculty. However, due to the ongoing high court stay, this replacement could not be immediately enacted. Patel raised objections to this new appointment, citing the same rules that had previously been disregarded.

In light of the high court’s comments, it was made clear that Patel had the right to challenge Chakrabarty’s appointment as well. Eventually, both Parmar and the university withdrew their petitions, ultimately leading to a complex resolution of the ongoing disputes surrounding HNGU’s administrative decisions.