The Gujarat Legislative Assembly unanimously approved the Gujarat Educational Institutions Service Tribunal (Amendment) Bill-2026 to expedite the resolution of disputes for academic and non-academic staff in educational institutions. Education Minister Pradyuman Vaja emphasized that the bill’s passage would bring all state universities under the tribunal’s jurisdiction, ensuring prompt resolution of service-related and institutional conflicts. This move aims to provide university employees with swift justice and strengthen the justice system in the educational sector.
The bill’s inclusion of all universities under the tribunal’s authority is expected to enhance efficiency, reduce the burden on courts, and promote transparency in resolving disputes. Minister Vaja highlighted that the amendment, necessitated by the 2023 Gujarat Public Universities Act, reinstates universities under the tribunal’s oversight, thereby increasing accountability and efficiency in higher education. Moreover, the bill grants the government the flexibility to include other universities through notifications as needed.
Furthermore, the legislation ensures that universities cannot be removed from the tribunal’s jurisdiction without government authorization. It also empowers the state government to repeal any enactment listed in Schedule-1 of the legislation through a Gazette notification, while respecting university autonomy. Minister Vaja stressed that bringing universities under the tribunal’s purview would standardize decisions, alleviate the workload of regular courts, and ensure timely and fair justice for employees across all educational levels.
The Educational Tribunal, operational since 2014, has successfully resolved around 3,650 cases, issuing orders for entitled benefits and dismissing applications without entitlement. This proactive approach aims to streamline the resolution process and provide efficient justice mechanisms for educational institution employees.
