Imphal, July 10: Even as the Manipur University Teachers' Association (MUTA) has submitted a representation to the Vice Chancellor Prof C Amuba Singh demanding an inquiry by an independent body into the Rs 8.9 lakhs fake purchase scam today, no explicit reply has been given by the VC in this regard, thereby inciting the teachers to intensify their ongoing stir.

MUTA, in its meeting yesterday, decided to urge the varsity authorities to institute a probe into the scam by an independent body and had agreed that its ongoing non-cooperation movement would be suspended during the course of the probe.

Today, the agitating teachers submitted their decision to the VC but the latter did not give any explicit reply.

'If the authorities fail to comply with our legitimate demands, then we have no alternative but to intensify our stir in a democratic manner', stated MUTA president Prof Maibam Ranjit Singh.

MUTA will also stay away from the ensuing Executive Council meeting of the varsity scheduled to be held within the next few days, Ranjit informed.

Though MUTA's non-cooperation movement that began from July 2 keeps means they have not been attending any meeting by MU authorities 'we would not hamper the academic flow and hence we would take classes after the ongoing summer vacation ends on July 24', he added.

Meanwhile, four the Heads of Departments Chemistry, Life Science, Computer Science and Biotechnology, who were earlier implicated in the scam by the varsity authorities, have today reaffirmed their resignation stance.

Yesterday, the four Heads of Departments tendered their resignation from their respective posts to the VC saying that the varsity authorities had failed to uphold their prestige and integrity and that they have been made scapegoats in the issue.

The four had pleaded innocence in the scam saying that they were forced to sign the papers pertaining to the fake purchases by the authorities concerned.

Upon this varsity authority (VC) had already stated that the incident was unfortunate, and that the teachers and officials who were caught up in the unfortunate episode are morally innocent.

Trouble began some days back after the varsity found no items worth Rs 8.9 lakhs at the stores of the four departments though such items were purchased on papers.

Attempts to contact the VC by some reporters at his office though such items were purchased in papers only.

Attempts to contact the VC by some reporters at his office on the matter drew a blank.

Some faculty members feared that the Central authorities and the UGC might freeze the funds of MU in the wake of the fake purchase scam.

Comment