Agra varsity staff suspended for seeking bribe
AGRA:Amidst allegations of rampant corruption in Dr. BR Ambedkar University offices here, vice chancellor Dr Arvind Dixit suspended an employee posted in the examination department on the complaint of a student on Friday .
However, the university staff association representatives met the VC on Saturday and warned of strike if the suspension was not withdrawn.
The VC has constituted a three-member committee to probe the matter and submit its report within 15 days. The employee will remain suspended till a decision is taken on the probe panel report.
Reports said Vivek Shrotriya, a BSc second year student at KC Educational Institute in Hathras district alleged that he had applied online for his mark
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A threemember committee has been constituted to probe the matter. The committee will submit its report as soon as possible although it has been given 15 days’ time
GIRIJA SHANKAR, spokesperson, BR Ambedkar University
sheet but Shatrughan Singh, the dealing assistant in the examination department ,sought money for providing the mark sheet on Friday.
Taking note of the complaint, the VC called him to the office and asked him to identify the employee asking for bribe. Once Shatrughan Singh was identified, the vice chancellor suspended him and attached him with the chemistry department for the duration of suspension.
“A three-member committee comprising Dr Rajesh Dhakre from the Institute of Basic Science, Dr Sujata from BD Jain Degree College and deputy registrar (administration) has been constituted to probe the matter. The committee will submit its report as soon as possible although it has been given 15 days’ time,” said Girija Shankar, spokesperson of the university.
However, the staff association protested the suspension on Saturday and threatened to go on strike. “The VC’s action is unjustified and we are not going to take it lying down. If the suspension is not withdrawn, work in the university office would be brought to a standstill,” said Akhilesh Chaudhary, president of the Non Teaching Staff Association of the varsity.
Earlier too, there have been complaints of students being harassed by staff seeking monetary gains in lieu of work but nothing was done. Students had to run from pillar to post for mark sheets and degrees.
But this time the vice chancellor seems to have taken a firm stand against malpractices.
However, the strike threat might affect efforts to regularise the session at the university which is yet to declare full results for the last session.
“The stake holders at the university are students and their welfare is not to be compromised. The student has given a complaint in writing and the vice chancellor has made it clear that any more complaints would be similarly dealt with. There would be zero tolerance for corruption,” the varsity spokesperson said.