Vacant Surat Charity Post Stalls 30,000 Public Trusts

Surat : The day-to-day administration of over 30,000 public trusts in Surat and South Gujarat has been left in limbo for the past one-and-a-half years due to the vacancy of a permanent Joint Charity Commissioner. This ongoing issue has severely disrupted the functioning of public trusts in seven districts, including Surat, Bharuch, Narmada, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi, and Dang. With no permanent officer in place and only an in-charge commissioner balancing multiple responsibilities across the state, critical charity-related cases have been left unattended, causing frustration among trustees and legal professionals alike.

The Joint Charity Commissioner’s office, located in Surat, serves as the administrative hub for public trusts registered across seven districts in South Gujarat. However, the absence of a permanent commissioner since June 2023 has put a strain on the administration of these trusts. RT Pandya, the previous Joint Charity Commissioner, retired on June 9, 2023, leaving a significant void in the management of charity-related affairs.

In an effort to address this gap, the state government appointed RV Vyas, the Joint Charity Commissioner from Ahmedabad, as the in-charge officer for Surat. However, this move has only worsened the situation, as Vyas is already managing his responsibilities in Ahmedabad and Mehsana. This triple burden has made it nearly impossible for him to provide adequate attention to the issues in South Gujarat.

According to sources within the charity office, the in-charge commissioner has been unable to visit Surat regularly due to his overwhelming workload. Although Fridays have been earmarked for his visits to Surat, trustees from across South Gujarat, from Rajpipla to Vapi and Dang, are often left waiting in long queues, only to find that the commissioner is absent. As a result, the work of public trusts has ground to a halt.

Many cases have been left unresolved due to the lack of a permanent commissioner. An estimated 200 cases, some of which have been awaiting final orders for over a year and a half, remain in limbo. The in-charge commissioner has refrained from issuing judgments, further delaying justice for the concerned trustees and stakeholders.

Lawyers specializing in charity cases have expressed their growing frustration with the situation. Harshad Pandya, one of the most senior lawyers dealing with charity-related matters, has written to the Chief Minister and the state law department, urging the immediate appointment of a permanent Joint Charity Commissioner for Surat. His call to action is echoed by several other legal professionals who practice in South Gujarat’s charity offices. They argue that without a dedicated officer, the proper functioning of the public trusts cannot be restored, leaving important decisions and administrative tasks suspended indefinitely.

The impact of the vacancy is widespread, affecting not only the legal community but also thousands of trustees responsible for managing public trusts across the seven districts. Without a permanent commissioner to oversee the administration, the very foundation of these trusts is threatened, as no official is willing to take responsibility for the backlog of unresolved cases.