MANIPUR: VC PANDEY RECIPROCATES, DECLARES NOT TO RESIGN

Manipur University vice-chancellor Adya Prasad Pandey has denied allegations made by Manipur University Students’ Union and declares that he will not resign from the post.

“I came to Manipur to serve the university and not to resign,” said Pandey, talking to reporters at his Imphal residence. I deny forthwith all the MUSU’s allegations, contentions and averments against me, which are mentioned in points, simply on the ground that they are baseless, malicious and mala fide. I am not answerable to any kind of unfounded and untrue allegations, said Pandey. Making a long clarification of 15 points against the students’ allegations Pandey said that he made the clarification in the larger interest of the student community who are hampered by the agitation and to save their academic careers. “I would like to clear out the false allegations being used by MUSU to garner momentum in the agitation that ever since I assumed the charge of vice-chancellor of Manipur University on October 26, 2016, there has been a series of crises in academic and administrative matters which have caused extreme hardships to the students, teaching staff and non-teaching staff of the varsity.” Pandey said.

Manipur University Students’ Union, has been on strike since May 30 demanding removal of the vice-chancellor for alleged malpractices.The varsity has been totally paralysed. The student body alleged that that Pandey is unpunctual at his office and use his chamber like a “night club”. He attends office hardly 10 days in a month and used university funds for frequent travel. He has spent nearly Rs 8 crore on travelling, the union alleged. The union also alleged that statutory posts of registrar, controller of examinations, librarian and curator did not have permanent appointees. It is alleged Pandey spent Rs 60 lakh for the upkeep of his bullet-proof car. Among others it was also alleged that Pandey offered tenders for various work in the university to people known to him to “earn a commission”.

“My visits outside Manipur are for official purposes. During my visits outside the state, the charge of VC is being given to the senior most professor of the varsity. It is very unfortunate that my official visits for the development and welfare of the university are being quoted “disgrace to the office”. Sometimes in my leave notice, I did not mention the return date in view of the uncertainty in the date of accomplishment of my works at the UGC, HRD ministry or other ministries. Moreover, expenditure incurred on the official visits cannot be considered as loss of the university,” he said.

There is no violation of Manipur University Act 2005 and there is no misuse of power and position as VC he added. I deny the entire allegation as being completely unfounded and beyond my integrity here is no illegality in working late depending on the work load of the office. There is no harm in working extra hours for the benefits of the University, said the VC. Keeping of the statutory posts like registrar, controller of examinations, librarian and curator as in-charge positions has already prevalent in the university before my joining of VC office. For the recruitment of these posts it has already been notified and the university has initiated screening of applications forms. Present agitation is delaying the final year’s examination which is to be completed in June, 2018, said the VC. The allegation made by various stakeholders of university against the vice-chancellor is appropriate according to the findings made by Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee’s high level committee, said Manipur PCC chairman, Gaikhangam.

The high level committee has submitted a report of observation to president in-charge of MPCC, N. Loken today. Speaking to media persons in a press conference held at Congress Bhawan, BT Road, chairman of MPCC, Gaikhangam said the committee had approached all the stakeholders of the university in order to maintain fairness in the observation. It approached Manipur University Students Union (MUSU), Manipur University Teachers’ Association (MUTA), the VC and also parents of the students studying in the varsity, he added. Gaikhangam said the VC is irresponsive when requested to share some of his views on current university crisis. “His attitude can be considered as refusal to share his views. Hence committee feels that allegations made by stakeholders against him are proper,” he added. To discuss the prevailing crisis of the university, some members of MPCC will be leaving for Delhi tomorrow.