New Delhi:
Manipur University Vice Chancellor Professor AP Pandey has been placed under suspension by the HRD Ministry with immediate effect from Monday until the completion of the inquiry against him, according to an order issued by Surat Singh, deputy secretary of the Higher Education department of HRD Ministry.
The order said that that due to a long-drawn agitation against Pandey, by the students and teachers in the campus of the Manipur University, the University was in a state of turmoil.
Also Read | Manipur University row: VC Pandey moves HC against fact-finding committee, students burn his effigies
“The President of India in his capacity as Visitor of the Manipur University, on consideration of material on record and taking into account volatile law and order situation in the Campus of the University and in exercise of powers conferred on him under provisions of Statute 13(1) of the Statutes of the Manipur University Act, 2005 read with Section 16 of the General Clause Act, 1897, is pleased to place Pandey under suspension with immediate effect and till completion of the inquiry and action to be taken thereon in the interest of justice for free and fair inquiry or till further orders,” the order said.
“The Manipur government had informed that the agitation against Pandey has led to serious law and order problem and administrative crises in the state,” the order said.
‘To resolve the impasse by the agitating students and teachers association, an inquiry committee consisting of T Nandakumar Singh, former acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya and Prof MK Choudhary, former vice-chancellor of Tezpur University, was constituted on August 17,” the order added.
Meanwhile, a two-member independent committee, which was instituted by the HRD ministry to probe into the alleged administrative and financial irregularities of Pandey had started working on September 6.
Also Read | Manipur university row: Former CM O Ibobi slams VC Pandey’s order
The inquiry committee which had asked all stakeholders to submit relevant details till September 16 had extended the deadline till September 24.
The Manipur University re-opened on August 23 after 85 days of shutdown, following an agreement with the HRD ministry, which formed a fact-finding committee to look into their allegations.
(With PTI inputs)
