Manipur University row: Members of northeast students' body submit memorandum to HRD Ministry

The members of a northeast students' body today submitted a memorandum to the HRD Ministry, seeking removal of Manipur University's Vice Chancellor Aditya Prasad Pandey over allegations of financial irregularities and administrative negligence.

The members of the North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) today staged a protest outside the ministry, while a couple of its other members submitted a memorandum to the ministry.

"We want the VC to step down. Even if an inquiry committee has been re-constituted, how can there be a fair probe, when the VC is still in office? Since he holds the highest position in the university, he can manipulate people and other essential documents," said Chinglen, a member of the NEFIS.

In the memorandum submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the students' body has alleged that the vice chancellor has made arbitrary and illegal donation of Rs 2 lakh from the university's funds to the BJP-backed students' body Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The NEFIS alleged that Pandey has used his office to award contracts without following any due procedure. The procurement price of essentials such as exam papers in the contracts awarded is drastically higher than the earlier procurement prices.

The VC has violated the MU Act, 2005 by neglecting court meetings. The meetings with executive and finance council are not being conducted as stipulated by the university rules, the memorandum said.

They also said that there have been excessive delays in getting routine work done from the vice chancellor's office, including signing of certificates.

The memorandum said that there is a physical and psychological harassment of students wanting to meet Pandey.

The VC has been taking frequent leaves without informing the university about his return date and spending around Rs 8 crore in travelling expenses so far during his tenure, the memorandum said.

The forum has also demanded that all the actions taken by the VC's office should be withdrawn. The Assam Rifles camp should also be removed from the university campus.

The fact-finding committee, reconstituted by the HRD Ministry, is headed by T Nandakumar Singh, former acting chief justice of the high court of Meghalaya and comprises J K Tripathi, joint secretary, University Grants Commission and Surat Singh, Deputy Secretary, Department of Higher Education, HRD Ministry as members.

The academic activities at the university have been under suspension for the past 47 days as teachers, students and staff associations are agitating here for Pandey's removal.