Our Correspondent
Imphal, Sep. 2: The report about a joining report by Prof. Adya Prasad Pandey as vice chancellor of Manipur University and subsequent issuance of two more orders evoked sharp reactions from the Manipur University community on Sunday.
An emergency joint meeting of executive members of Manipur University Students Union (MUSU), Manipur University Staffs Association (MUSA) and Manipur University Teacher’s Association (MUTA) here on Sunday afternoon resolved that “the competent authority should take an appropriate action on or before Sep. 4 against Prof AP Pandey on his virtual orders being issued since Sep. 1.”
The meeting also resolved, “if the appropriate action is not taken by the competent authority against Pandey for his various virtual orders during his period of leave, the agitation which was suspended temporarily on the basis of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on Aug. 16 between MHRD, Manipur government on one side and university community on the other in the office of the chief minister of Manipur, be resumed.”
On Sep. 1, Pandey issued a letter of resumption of his duty as vice-chancellor of Manipur University with effect from Sep. 1 and two official orders which include reinstatement of Registrar in charge Prof M Shyamkesho Singh of Manipur University as per MHRD’s letter and banning of MUTA and MUSA as per Manipur University Act, 2005.
However MUSU, MUSA and MUTA in the day’s joint meeting resolved that “any order issued by Prof AP Pandey during his period of leave be condemned as null and void and so non-binding.”
As per the MoA, Pandey will be on leave during one month long enquiry and another 15 days for action taken report of the enquiry, says President M Dayaman of MUSU which launched the indefinite shutdown from May 30 demanding Pandey’s ouster on charges of financial and administrative irregularities. The enquiry by the independent two-member committee is also yet to be started, sources claimed.
After being paralysed for 85 days, Manipur University reopened on Aug. 23 after the MHRD approved of the MoA signed among the University community, the HRD and the state government.