Periodic table meets Shakespeare: Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University (HNGU) appoints chemistry professor as HOD of English | Ahmedabad News
AHMEDABAD: The decision of Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University (HNGU) to appoint a chemistry professor as the in-charge head of its English department ended up in combustion triggering multiple litigations and a fuming court questioning the university–how a science teacher would address academic concerns of English literature students? The HNGU was forced to reverse the decision even as the court allowed aggrieved party to knock on appropriate doors for further justice.The issue arose after the retirement of former HOD of English, Adesh Pal, in June last year, when the university appointed Kokilaben Parmar, a faculty member in the chemistry department, as in-charge HOD of English. The appointment was challenged by Hetal Patel, a faculty member in the English department, who approached the Education Tribunal.HNGU’s advocate, Meet Shah, defended the university’s decision, submitting that the seniority of faculty members in the English department was yet to be ascertained. He said Parmar was tasked to look after only administrative affairs of the department. He also questioned Patel’s application in the tribunal, arguing it was not a service matter but only the university’s administrative decision for a temporary arrangement.On Oct 10, 2025, the tribunal stayed HNGU’s decision to appoint a chemistry faculty member as English HOD. Parmar then approached the high court, challenging the stay on the grounds that she was not heard by the tribunal before it stayed her appointment as HOD of English. A week later, the high court stayed the tribunal’s order.The university also challenged the tribunal’s decision, citing the tribunal’s jurisdiction to entertain Patel’s application, which it said was not a service matter. Patel’s counsel submitted that the university ignored the rules and neglected her in appointing the chemistry faculty member as in-charge HOD.During a hearing on Tuesday, Justice Nirzar Desai questioned the university on how chemistry could address academic concerns of a student of English literature. The university could not reply to the court’s query, but said Parmar’s role was restricted to administrative decisions only. However, the court continued to question how an HOD not well versed in the subject could help a student.On Friday, the university produced a draft order to replace the chemistry teacher with a faculty member of the English department, Tapal Chakrabarty. The university clarified that it could not replace Parmar as in-charge HOD with somebody else due to the high court’s stay order. Patel objected to the proposal as well, citing the rules of appointment and seniority.Following HNGU’s new decision, Parmar and the university withdrew their petitions. On Patel’s grievance regarding Chakrabarty as the new choice, the High Court said, “…it shall be open for respondent No. 3, Ms. Patel, to challenge the same before the appropriate authority in accordance with law.”
