Appointment of minister’s brother to varsity post sparks controversy

LUCKNOW : The appointment of Uttar Pradesh basic education minister Satish Chand Dwivedi’s younger brother as an assistant professor in the psychology department at Siddharth University, Kapilvastu, on the basis of allegedly “fake” economically weaker section (EWS) quota has led to a controversy on social media.

Social activist Nutan Thakur and her husband Amitabh Thakur lodged a complaint with governor Anandiben Patel, who is chancellor of the university, saying that prima facie the minbrother Arun Dwivedi (Arun Kumar) used EWS quota to get the job which “looks to be fake “and an inquiry should be set up to settle the dispute.

University vice chancellor Surendra Dubey said Arun Dwivedi was appointed by the selection committee held in March. The EWS certificate which he produced was issued by the district administration, he said.

“If the document submitted by him turns out to be fake, the university will take action against him as per the rules which includes his termination and recovery of salary. Arun joined the university on May 21,” he said.

Dubey added, “If any competent authority demands a probe, the university will get documents verified from district administration that has issued the EWS certificate. I was not even aware that Arun is the brother of the basic education minister in the UP government.”

Fair selection process followed by varsity: Minister

Basic education minister Satish Chand Dwivedi said, “My brother got selected to the post of assistant professor through a fair selection process followed by the university. Anyone havister’s ing doubts on his selection may seek probe.”

He added that he was not involved in the selection process in any way. On the question that his brother was selected under EWS quota, the minister said if a family member is earning well, it doesn’t mean that all members of the family are financially stable.

“My brother applied for the post using an income certificate issued by the district administration which must have been checked by the university,” he said. The minister is the MLA from Itwa constituency in Siddharth Nagar district of eastern Uttar Pradesh.