Retd judge may be in panel probing unrest

day after the Manipur chief minister urged the human resource development (HRD) ministry to add a representative from the state government in the committee formed to find a solution to the problem in Manipur University, the ministry is considering including a retired chief justice from the state.

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, on Sunday met HRD minister Prakash Javadekar. The students union and faculty have been demanding that Manipur University Vice-Chancellor, Adya Prasad Pandey, should be sent on leave till the inquiry is on.

The academic activities at the university have been under suspension for the past many days as the students and the teachers are agitating for the removal of the V-C over his alleged failure to appoint members in important posts, and administrative negligence. The ministry on July 12 set up committee of two members.

However, the agitators have demanded an independent inquiry committee headed by a retired chief justice of the high court, and refused to co-operate with the committee.

“This is a burning issue. Manipur University Student Union and Manipur University Teacher Association have demanded the removal of the V-C. Their charges are that he does not stay in the university premises; he does not consult the local professors and faculty; he works on his own; he is not creating an academic atmosphere; he has his own security and students and teachers have to go through a security drill...”

“(The) HRD ministry has constituted a two member committee but the students and teachers are not agreeing. They are asking that an independent body, led by a retired justice, should be constituted. A local should also be involved,” the chief minister told HT in an interview. HTC

NEWDELHI:A