Ajit Ranade's Firing As VC At Gokhale Institute - The Inside Story

A major conflict is underway at Pune's prestigious Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE).

The Chancellor Dr Bibek Debroy has resigned today (27 September) - an action prompted by a court granted relief to Dr Ajit Ranade, who had been fired by Dr Debroy just days earlier.

Dr. Ajit Ranade, a prominent economist and political analyst, took charge as Vice-Chancellor of GIPE in 2022.

With a PhD in Economics from Brown University and credentials from IIT Bombay and IIM Ahmedabad, Ranade has held numerous academic and corporate positions, including serving as Chief Economist of the Aditya Birla Group.

While Ranade has obtained temporary relief against his removal from the Bombay High Court, the story behind his appointment reveals a series of missteps and serious errors.

So what exactly happened?

In a December 2023 complaint to the UGC, faculty member Murli Krishna claimed that Ranade’s appointment violated the requirement of ten years of teaching experience.

In response to these complaints the earlier Chancellor Dr. Rajiv Kumar, served a show cause notice to Ranade asking as to why 'appropriate action must not be initiated for not possessing the required qualifications' for the job of the VC.

In July 2024, Bibek Debroy’s appointment as Chancellor of GIPE came just ten days after the University Grants Commission (UGC) requested an action taken report from the institute regarding alleged violations in Ajit Ranade's appointment as Vice-Chancellor.

The UGC, for its part, warned GIPE on 26 June that it would initiate its own inquiry if no action was reported.

Following Ranade's response to the notice issued by the earlier Chancellor, a follow up Fact Finding Committee (FFC) was set up by the successive Chancellor Dr Bibek Debroy in July 2024.

The committee concluded that Ranade's appointment violated University Grants Commission (UGC) norms, particularly requiring a Vice-Chancellor to have ten years of continuous teaching experience as a professor at a recognised academic institution.

In its 13th September 2024 report, the FFC concluded, “The Committee, after careful consideration, is of the opinion that Dr Ajit Ranade’s candidature does not conform to the established norms set forth by the UGC guidelines. It is, therefore, legally untenable for him to continue in the role of Vice-Chancellor.”

This report led to his dismissal on 14 September 2024 by the institute's newly appointed Chancellor, Bibek Debroy, a respected economist and Chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council.

The committee recommended his removal due to non-compliance with regulatory criteria.

Serious conflict of interest

The committee's report, Swarajya has learnt reliably, went to some lengths to explain its position.

Ranade, who had been part of the Board of the Management of GIPE, was present in the meetings that took place in 2021 to determine the procedures and nominations related to the formation of the Search-cum-Selection Committee' for the appointment of the VC.

In these meetings Dr Ranade, the FFC says, suggested the nomination of Prof Mahindra Dev as a member of the Search-cum-Selection committee.

The said committee invited Ranade to be apply for the post of the VC in September 2021 and Ranade expressed willingness.

By end of September 2021 Ranade's name featured in a shortlist made by the committee. During this entire time Ranade remained in the Board of Management and resigned only in late October 2021.

Ranade's suggestion of Prof Mahendra Dev's name has also been flagged by the FFC as Ranade and Dev had a deep professional relationship 'characterized by significant collaboration and ongoing academic engagement.'

The FFC flags Ranade's failure to recuse himself from the Board of Management's meetings and calls it deeply concerning and says such actions can be viewed as breach of ethical standards.

The FFC also flags Ranade continuous involvement and said it raised serious questions about the integrity of the selection process.

The FFC further points out how according to existing government rules any member who intends to be a candidate for the post of a VC must recuse themselves and not participate in the meeting of the Executive Committee/Board of Management.

A letter from the Secretary and Trustee of Servants of India Society, the sponsoring body of GIPE, that highlighted the apparent conflicts of interest had also been sent. This letter was ignored, the FFC points out.

With 44 applicants being in the list, two of them recommended by a reputed academician, the Search-cum-Selection committee chose Dr Ranade - despite his failure to meet he necessary qualifications, the FFC says.

The academic qualifications necessary to be appointed as VC, according to the norms established by UGC, are that the candidate must be a distinguished academician with

"- atleast ten years of experience as a professor in a university

(or)

- ten years experience in a reputed research and/or academic administration organisation with proof of having demonstrated academic leadership."

As against such stringent norms Ranade could provide only 1.2 years experience as a Professor.

Ranade had faced opposition since his appointment, with accusations of misrepresenting his qualifications to the UGC and state authorities.

Additionally, RTI disclosures by Murali Krishna alleged financial mismanagement, including the creation of unnecessary posts. Based on the FFC's findings and UGC regulations, Chancellor Bibek Debroy decided to terminate Ranade's position with immediate effect.

Soon after his termination, Ranade sought some more time to 'complete certain formalities'. As a result, the Chancellor pushed this to 21 September 2024.

In the meantime, Ranade filed a petition with the Bombay High Court, challenging the decision. He argued that his removal was not in line with natural justice and was based on a narrow interpretation of UGC guidelines.

The court granted him interim relief, allowing him to continue in his role until at least 7 October 2024, while it further reviews the case. During this time, Professor Shankar Das has been entrusted with the day-to-day administrative responsibilities of the institute.

Media reports also suggest that talks by people like Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Suraj Yengde, along with controversial historian Ramachandra Guha's appearance at a book launch event at GIPE, had stirred controversy within the institute.

Also, the appointment of Sabyasachi Das, notorious for his then non-peer reviewed paper titled 'Democratic Backsliding in the World's Largest Democracy' at Ashoka University, as GIPE visiting faculty has been alleged to have been done without proper consultation.

Ranade Gets 'Backup'

As soon as the news of his dismissal was made public, senior Congress leader and former union minister Jairam Ramesh slammed Debroy's decision.

Ramesh stated that it was "a sad commentary on how institutional decay is taking place in an increasingly illiberal atmosphere."

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray also slammed the move earlier this week, batting for Ranade and terming the decision as 'demoralising'.

Ranade has also received editorial support from some news outlets that criticised the move.

At the Bombay High Court the bench of Justices M.S. Sonak and Kamal Khata ruled that the termination order against Ajit Ranade would be held off until 7 October 2024. The court also scheduled a hearing for Ranade's case on 4 October, when his plea will be further examined.