MU VC Pandey suspended by Univ Visitor till enquiry against him through

AP Apandey

The HRD ministry has suspended the incumbent vice-chancellor of Manipur University Professor, Adya Prasad Pandey until the enquiry constituted against him is completed and action is taken thereof.

A suspension order was issued in this regards by the deputy secretary to the Government of India, Surat Singh said Pandey has been put under suspension with immediate effect from Monday.

The order said, due to a long-drawn agitation against Pandey, by the students and teachers in the campus of the Manipur University, the University was in a state of turmoil.

“The President of India in his capacity as Visitor of the Manipur University on consideration of material on record and taking into account the volatile law and order situation in the Campus of the University and in exercise of powers conferred on him under provisions of Statute 13(1) of the Statutes of the Manipur University Act, 2005 read with Section 16 of the General Clause Act, 1897 is pleased to place Pandey, under suspension with immediate effect and till completion of the enquiry and action to be taken thereon in the interest of justice for free and fair enquiry or till further orders,” said the order.

The government of Manipur has informed that the agitation against Pandey has led to serious law and order problem and administrative crises in the state, it said.

With a view to resolving the impasse created by the agitating students and teachers association, an enquiry committee consisting of T. Nandakumar Singh, former acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya and Prof M.K. Choudhary, former vice-chancellor of Tezpur University was constituted on August 17, it added.

Subsequently, agitation in the varsity campus was temporarily suspended on August 22 after a period of 85 days and the Manipur University started functioning the next day with Pandey proceeding on leave. Resuming of duties by Pandey has further deteriorated the atmosphere of the University, said the order.

Pandey on September 4 claimed that he had resumed his duties after completion of 30 days’ leave that began on August 2. He claimed that he had not received any letter for extension of leave even though the university’s registrar (in-charge) Sh. Dorendrajit Singh said Pandey’s leave had been extended with effect from September 1 until the completion of the inquiry proceedings against him and a necessary follow-up action was taken on the inquiry report.

The V-C’s refusal to accept the leave extension and subsequent resumption of duty has resorted the Varsity community to resume their agitation, once again putting at risk the academic atmosphere of the campus.

Manipur University Teachers’ Association executive member, N. Sanatombi said the varsity community appreciated the President, Ram Nath Kovind and the HRD ministry for suspending Pandey.

He further lauded the state government for taking up initiatives by taking up the matter to the Centre and informed about the serious law and order problem in the state arise from the university’s vice-chancellor issue.

Lauding the CVOs and all the stakeholders for their support in the demand for removal of Pandey, N Sanajaoba appealed for continue support until Pandey is terminated, punished and compensate for the loss of the university fund.

Manipur University Students’ Union appealed to the state government to vacate Pandey from his Sanjanthong quarter, in Imphal.

Source imphal free press