Sacking Gokhale VC another instance of institutional decay: Cong's Jairam

The Congress on Wednesday said the termination of Ajit Ranade from the post of Vice-Chancellor of the Pune-based Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics was yet another instance of "institutional decay taking place in an increasingly illiberal atmosphere".

Taking to X, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, “In February 2022, Ajit Ranade was appointed the VC of the prestigious Pune-based Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. This selection was widely acclaimed."

"In September 2024, he gets sacked on the grounds that he does not have 10 years of teaching experience as per UGC rules. Isn't this strange? Surely, this information was available to the appointing authorities two years back," Ramesh wrote.

The Congress leader said Ranade was highly educated and an accomplished scholar with degrees from IIT-Mumbai and IIM-Ahmedabad.

"These academic credentials cannot be bettered. He has published a number of well-cited research papers and has had long experience in the corporate sector. He has been associated with academic institutions much before February 2022. All through, he has always maintained his professional independence and integrity," Ramesh added.

The Congress leader claimed that there was more to Ranade’s “abrupt” removal than what met the eye.

"Whatever it is, it is a sad commentary on how institutional decay is taking place in an increasingly illiberal atmosphere," the senior Congress MP said.