Manipur University V-C granted leave

Manipur University’s vice-chancellor AP Pandey was granted one-month leave on the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry’s advice on Thursday amid demands for his removal over alleged administrative negligence.

The academic activities at the university have been under suspension for days as students and teachers are agitating for Pandey’s removal. He has been blamed for failing to make appointments to key posts.

The ministry had set up an inquiry committee and later included a retired high court chief justice from the state in it.

The university’s students union and faculty had been demanding that Pandey be sent on leave until the inquiry is on.

“…As per the advice of the MHRD dated 2 August, 2018, Prof AP Pandey has been granted a leave for a period of 30 days with effect from 2 August, 2018,” read an order of the university’s registrar. W Vishwanath Singh will replace Pandey for 30 days.

A person familiar with the developments said Pandey was being persuaded to go on leave for some time but had refused.

“However, the HRD ministry was able to persuade him to go on leave as the situation was becoming critical in the university paralysing all activities,” the person added.

Earlier, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh had urged the ministry to include a representative from the state government in the committee constituted on July 12 with two members from the HRD and the University Grants Commission.

The agitators had demanded an independent inquiry committee and refused to co-operate with the committee.

NEWDELHI: