IMPHAL, Sept 6 - Manipur University Vice Chancellor (VC) AP Pandey has filed a writ petition in the High Court, challenging the institution of a two-member fact-finding committee by the Human Resource Development Ministry (HRD) to probe allegations of irregularities levelled against him.
The VC, who joined office on September 1 following a month�s leave, moved the court on Wednesday, demanding dissolution of the inquiry panel, his counsel said.
He has set up an office at his official residence as students and teachers have refused to allow him to enter the Central university�s campus.
�Manipur High Court judge N Kotiswar has referred the plea to a larger bench comprising Chief Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar as the issue involves public interests,� the counsel said, adding that the plea has not been admitted as yet.
After resuming office last week, Pandey had released a statement banning the Manipur University Teachers� Association (MUTA) and the Manipur University Staff Association (MUSA). He reasoned that the Central university does not have provisions for employees� bodies.
The ban sparked fresh protests at the university where academic activities had resumed on August 24 following the suspension of a 85-day strike to press for Pandey�s removal.
Before the suspension of the agitation, representatives of the State Government and HRD Ministry entered into an agreement on August 16 with the protesting bodies � Manipur University Students� Union (MUSU), MUTA and MUSA. Pandey�s counsel told media persons that the Manipur University was not a party to the August 16 Memorandum of Agreement.
�Two of the associations, which had signed the agreement, are not officially recognised bodies as per the provisions of the Manipur University Act, 2005,� he claimed. � PTI
Imphal Correspondent adds: The Manipur University Students� Union (MUSU) on Thursday threatened to resume its agitation programmes till normalcy is restored in the university. Shouting slogans against VC AP Pandey, MUSU volunteers also burnt his effigy at the main entrance to the Manipur University at Canchipur in Imphal West district.
MUSU general secretary Laishram Kennedy told reporters that the student union would intensify its agitation if the authorities concerned failed to bring normalcy to the university. �We are confused by the numerous orders, including the suspension of VC in-charge Prof Vishwanath and Registrar in-charge Prof Dorendrajit. So we are suspending our semester examinations in view of the present situation in the campus,� he said. �We also seek the immediate intervention of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry and the Visitor to the University (the President of India),� Kennedy added.
A group of MUSU volunteers also tried to storm the official quarters of the Vice Chancellor at the Sanjenthong Officers� Colony in Imphal East district. But police personnel who rushed to the site prevented the students from doing so in front of the CC Higher Secondary School.
Later, the police picked up the volunteers led by the MUSU general secretary. The fresh crisis in the Manipur University was triggered after VC Pandey issued an order stating his resumption of duty on September 1. On Tuesday, Prof Pandey claimed that he had resumed his duties because a VC cannot be on leave for more than 30 days.
