The Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023

gujarat · 2023

The scanned source for this Act is imperfect — headings or section boundaries may be off. Verify against the official source.

S. 1(1) This Act may be called the Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023
S. 2Section defines key terms used in the Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023, including academic services units, adjunct professors, and autonomy.
S. 3The section establishes existing public universities under the Gujarat Public Universities Act and allows the State Government to create new universities and adjust their areas.
S. 4Section 4 outlines the university's objectives to disseminate, create, and preserve knowledge through teaching, research, and social responsibility.
S. 5Section 5 outlines the powers and duties of the university to promote research, education, and various academic disciplines.
S. 6Section 6 outlines the territorial jurisdiction and conditions for university collaborations and admissions within and outside Gujarat.
S. 7Section 7 prohibits discrimination in university appointments and admissions based on various grounds, while allowing reserved colleges for women and adopting government reservation policies.
S. 8Section 8 lists university officers and sets a 62-year age limit for non-Vice-Chancellor university authorities.
S. 9Section 9 designates the Governor of Gujarat as the Chancellor of universities, except for Maharaja Sayajirao University where the Chancellor is Her Highness Shrimati Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad.
S. 10Section 10 establishes the role and appointment process of the Vice-Chancellor in Gujarat public universities.
S. 11Section 11 outlines the appointment, role, and responsibilities of the Registrar in Gujarat Public Universities, including terms and temporary deputy arrangements.
S. 12Section 12 deems all university employees as public servants under the Indian Penal Code.
S. 13Section 13 outlines the authorities of the university, including the Board of Management, Executive Council, and other designated bodies.
S. 14Section 14 establishes the Board of Management as the principal authority for decision-making and administration in universities, with specific provisions for Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
S. 15Section 15 grants the Board of Management supreme authority over university reforms, governance, finances, and administration.
S. 16Section 16 outlines the composition of the Executive Council of the University, detailing its members and their selection criteria.
S. 17Section 17 outlines the Executive Council's duties to manage the university's finances, property, contracts, and other administrative tasks.
S. 18Section 18 establishes the Academic Council as the university's main academic authority responsible for regulating teaching, research, and evaluation standards.
S. 19Section 19 specifies eligibility for university authority membership and grants the Board of Management financial and budgetary control.
S. 20Section 20 of the Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023 allows university statutes to cover various matters including degree conferral, establishment of university facilities, and student discipline.
S. 21(1) The State Government shall proposed a model Statutes to be followed by all the Public Universities
S. 22Section 22 allows ordinances to regulate student admissions, fees, examiner duties, examination conduct, teacher recognition, student transfers, equal opportunity, and ragging prevention.
S. 23Section 23 outlines the process for the Board of Management to create, amend, or repeal ordinances, requiring Academic Council proposals for academic matters.
S. 24Section 24 empowers the Board of Management and Academic Council to create regulations for various university operations, including fellowships, collaborations, admissions, and non-academic matters.
S. 25Section 25 mandates adherence to admission, examination, and evaluation rules set by the State Government for public universities.
S. 26The Committees and Councils may be constituted for the service of the university as may be prescribed by Statutes
S. 27Section 27 outlines conditions for managements to meet for college affiliation or recognition under the Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023.
S. 28Section 28 grants autonomous status to university departments or affiliated colleges, allowing them to manage their academic and administrative functions independently.
S. 29Section 29 grants empowered autonomous status to eligible colleges, allowing them to exercise university-like powers and privileges.
S. 30Section 30 allows certain colleges or institutions to apply for empowered autonomous cluster status, subject to university and government approval.
S. 31Section mandates post-graduate activities to be conducted within the university area by affiliated colleges and recognized institutions.
S. 32Section 32 specifies the qualifications and conditions required for student enrollment at the university.
S. 33Section 33 vests disciplinary powers over university students in the Vice-Chancellor, who can delegate and enforce expulsion, rustication, fines, or debarment.
S. 34Section 34 authorizes the Board of Management to confer academic distinctions and allows the Vice-Chancellor to revoke them for moral offenses or fraud.
S. 35Section 35 allows the Board of Management to recommend honorary degrees based on eminent position, without tests, subject to majority approval and state government consent.
S. 36Section mandates the university to hold a convocation at least once yearly for degree and diploma conferrals.
S. 37Section 37 outlines the eligibility and application process for graduates to be registered with the university.
S. 38Section 38 bars unsound-minded, insolvent, or fraudulent individuals from being registered graduates and allows removal for other reasons with a hearing.
S. 39Section 39 mandates the Finance and Accounts Officer to prepare and submit the university's annual budget to the State Government.
S. 40Section 40 establishes various funds for a university, including general, salary, university, development, and contingency funds, detailing their sources and purposes.
S. 41Section 41 mandates the maintenance, annual audit, and submission of university accounts and audit reports to the State Government and Legislature.
S. 42Section 42 mandates the Board of Deans to prepare and submit an annual report to the Board of Management and State Government, which the State Government must present to the State Legislature.
S. 43Section 43 mandates university authorities to protect university interests and hold them liable for damages caused by non-compliance with the Act.
S. 44Section 44 allows university employees selected for state or national legislature to continue employment, treat membership as leave without pay, and count it for pension and seniority.
S. 45Section 45 allows disputes about the Act's provisions or university appointments to be referred to the State Government for final decision.
S. 46Section 46 restricts the university from making certain financial and administrative decisions without prior state government approval.
S. 47Section 47 ensures finality and immunity for good faith actions by the university and its officers.
S. 48Section 48 allows university officers to delegate their powers to subordinates, except for making Statutes, while retaining ultimate responsibility.
S. 49Section 49 ensures acts by university authorities remain valid despite membership or procedural irregularities.
S. 50Section 50 allows the State Government to issue orders for the initial setup of a new university, including appointments and regulations.
S. 51Section 51 preserves existing terms, powers, and duties for university officers and employees before the Act's commencement.
S. 52Section 52 ensures continuity of university authorities and interim measures until new constitutions are formed.
S. 53Section 53 repeals several university acts and saves existing vice-chancellors and affiliated colleges under the new Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023.
S. 54Section 54 allows the State Government to issue orders to resolve Act difficulties, but only within two years of commencement, and must present them to the State Legislature.