Retd HC judge should head inquiry committee: BJP delegation

A BJP delegation from Manipur has urged Union minister Prakash Javadekar to review the composition of a committee set up by the HRD ministry to probe allegations of administrative negligence and misutilisation of funds by Manipur University vice-chancellor(VC).

The 30-member delegation, led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, met the Union HRD minister in the national capital yesterday, and apprised him about the ongoing impasse at the central university.

During the meeting, the delegation stressed the need for appointing a retired judge of a high court to head an independent inquiry committee to probe the allegations against the VC, a statement issued by the chief minister's office here said.

The HRD ministry had on July 12 announced formation of a fact-finding committee, comprising a representative of the University Grants Commission and the Union ministry, to probe the allegations of administrative negligence and misutilisation of funds by the VC, Aditya Prasad Pandey.

The committee was also asked to submit a report on the ongoing agitation at the university which entered it's 47th day today.

However, the protesting university community under the aegis of Manipur University Students Union, Manipur University Teachers Association and Manipur University Staffs Association in a joint statement on July 14 had resolved not to cooperate with the committee as it did not meet their demand.

The associations had demanded that the investigation against the VC be carried out by an independent high-powered inquiry committee headed by a retired judge of a high court.

In a related development, Manipur University Students Association has called for a 48-hr general strike from midnight tonight demanding the VC's removal.

M Dayamand Singh, Manipur University Students Union president, told reporters that the decision has been taken as both the central and the state government did not take suitable action to meet the demands of the students.

He said the VC should first be removed before the committee starts probing the allegations.