MHRD constitutes new committee

Imphal, July 18, 2018 (DIPR): Fact Finding Committee was constituted by Ministry of Human Resources and Development to look into the allegations made against the Vice Chancellor of Manipur University Shri AP Pandey. The committee will be headed by retired Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court Sh T Nandakumar. The other two members of the committee are Sh JK Tripathi, Joint Secretary  UGC (Member), Sh Surat Singh, Deputy Secretary Higher Education MHRD.

The Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh thanked the Central Govt for showing concern and constituting the fact finding committee. He also stated that MUSU and MUTA and other members of the academic community will cooperate with the investigation and will allow the university to function in the interim in the larger interest of the students and their career.

The Vice Chancellor of Manipur University AP Pandey should go on leave during the inquiry into the allegations raised against him by MU students, teachers and non-teaching staff. This was stated by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh during an interview with a local news network this evening. The CM said, the MU issue has been raised not only with the HRD Minister Prakash Javadkar but with the HM and PM also. He said, we have taken note of the grievances of both students and teachers community, we are accordingly acting upon it. He further said, the state Cabinet has taken a decision that Prof Pandey should go on leave. It’s but natural that he should go on leave if an inquiry is conducted against him. It may be recalled here that the CM has already impressed upon the HRD minister on the need for a impartial inquiry to be headed by a retired Jugde of a High court. Regarding the territorial integrity of the state he said, any solution on the Naga issue should have the approval of the state assembly and that such a solution should not in any way disturb the present social, political and economic structure of Manipur state.