Pandey resumes duty as VC

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, September 4, 2018:  Manipur University vice-chancellor Adya Prasad Pandey today said he has resumed his duty after completion of 30 days leave given by the HRD ministry to conduct enquiry over allegations against him.

Pandey said he has returned to his duty after completion of 30 days leave that began on August 2. He claimed that he has not received any letter for extension his leave.  He asked why the enquiry committee is not completed during the leave.

The enquiry is said to commence from September 6.

If I have to take further leave I will decide after I get an official letter, said Pandey.

An order issued by MU registrar (in-charge), Sh. Dorendrajit Singh said Prof. Pandey’s leave has been extended with effect from September 1, until the completion of the enquiry proceedings against him and until the necessary follow up action is taken on the enquiry report by the competent authority.

 Pandey said that he does not receive any official letter for the leave extension.

 Addressing a news conference on Tuesday at his resident at officers’ colony Pandey said he has resumed his duty.

 He has opened an office as he cannot enter his chamber in the varsity campus. He said he has complained the director general of police for his office remains locked. “I am ready to accept any enquiry if it is fully independent. The present enquiry committee is partial that its chairman is a relative of one of the spokespersons of Manipur University Teachers’ Association.I can’t accept this enquiry committee”, said Pandey.

The ministry had constituted an independent enquiry committee headed by a former acting Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, T. Nandakumar and former vice-chancellor of Tezpur University, M.K Choudhary as a member to probe the allegations levelled against Pandey. After the agreement was approved by the Union HRD minister, the varsity community suspended its agitation on August 23.

 The agitation in the varsity was instigated by the teachers’ community. The students are good, but the masterminds in the issue are the teachers, said Pandey.

Pandey had also issued an order banning the Manipur University Teachers’ Association and Manipur University Staffs’ Association.