VC in a soup, MUTA sets Jun 22 deadline
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 19:
With no let up in the voices of discontent in connection with the case of fake purchases in four departments of Manipur University, the heat is piling up on the Vice Chancellor with each passing day.
According to a highly reliable source, the Manipur University Teachers' Association has not taken the alleged attempt of the MU authority to pass on the buck for the fake purchases to four Heads of Departments and has fixed June 22 as the deadline for the VC to retract the earlier decision taken to fix responsibilities on the four teachers.
Significantly, though the ultimatum of MUTA was submitted today, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ch Amuba is presently at Delhi to attend a meeting convened by the University Grants Commission.
To discuss the matter a meeting of MUTA was held today at 12.30 pm with its president Ranjit in the chair.
Three of the four HoDs who were present at the meeting alleged that they were made to sign the documents at the behest of the Pro VC in connection with the fake purchases, said another source.
The other HoD is currently out of station.
The HoDs further informed the meeting that they were not threatened by anyone to sign the required papers.
Earlier after the scam broke out, the VC had explained to the media that a sum of Rs about 8 lakhs was given to a UG group to meet their demand for a 10 pc cut.
The money was meant for purchasing items for four departments, Life Science, Biotechnology, Computer Science and Chemistry.
The Pro VC as well as the Dean of Social Science were also among those named in giving away the money to the UG group.
The VC had also stated that the four HoDs had admitted to their misdemeanour and even offered to resign on moral ground.
Not only this, the four HoDs, the Pro VC and the Dean of Social Sciences had admitted to their involvement in the case and had agreed to return the sum of Rs 8 lakhs before June 30.This direction to repay the money was purportedly issued during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the university on June 8.However not taking the matter lightly, MUTA had taken a decision on June 13 that they will oppose the move of the university authority to make the four HoDs scape goats and after the same was confirmed on June 16, a written missive was submitted to the VC spelling out the stand of the teachers, said the source.
Another well placed source said that contrary to what the VC and his men have said, the four HoDs had never admitted any wrong doing insisting that they were just signatories and did not agree with the proceedings taken up during the Executive Meeting of the university held on June 8.The same has been conveyed to the VC in writing, said the source.
The teachers of MU have adopted such a strong stand because the steps taken up by MU authority amounts to victimising the HoDs while the authority concerned have been let off scot free, said the source.
The demands put up by MUTA include retracting the statements made by the VC to the press as well as to nullify the proceedings taken up on June 8, which squarely blamed the four HoDs.
A written submission containing these points have been addressed to the VC, added the source.
Asserting that the teachers will not keep quiet in the event of the authority victimising any of them, the source said that intense agitation may be launched after June 22, if their conditions are not met.