Manipur University VC bans teachers and staff’s bodies

Imphal (Assam), September 2, 2018:

Just days after the Manipur University (MU) reopened after nearly three months of protests and restlessness on the campus, vice chancellor Prof Adya Prasad Pandey banned the Manipur University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) and Manipur University Staffs’ Association (MUSA) to maintain discipline.

“…The VC, in exercise of the powers conferred under Statute 3(4) of the Manipur University Act, 2005 for exercising power to maintain discipline, hereby bans both MUTA and MUSA with immediate effect, and also from holding any meeting or otherwise. Accordingly the university, henceforth, prohibits activity of these bodies in the university,” Pandey said in an “office order” dated September 1, 2018.

He warned that any employee of the university found indulging in the activities of MUTA and MUSA would invite disciplinary action as per service conduct rules.

According to the VC, the Manipur University Act, 2005 does not provide any provision or existence of employees’ bodies like MUTA and MUSA. He said the two organisations were found to be directly involved in subversive activities leading to the turmoil in the university campus and creation of indiscipline in the university violating the provisions of Manipur University Act, 2005.

“…It has become inevitable to curb the activities of both MUTA and MUSA to bring the university campus to order and maintain discipline,” he added.

It may be mentioned the two organisations had lent their support in the recent agitation spearheaded by Manipur University Students’ Union demanding the VC’s ouster.