President dismisses Prof AP Pandey as VC of MU

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 21: As recommended by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the President of India who is also the Visitor of Manipur University (MU) has dismissed Prof Adya Prasad Pandey from the post of MU Vice Chancellor.
“Now, therefore, the President of India, on consideration of facts and material available on record and reply submitted by Prof Adya Prasad Pandey, Vice Chancellor (under suspension), Manipur University, in his capacity as the Visitor of Manipur University, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him in terms of Section 13 of Manipur University Act, 2005 (read with Statute 2 thereof) and Section 16 of the General Clauses Act 1897, has been pleased to dismiss Prof Adya Prasad Pandey from the post of Vice-Chancellor, Manipur University with immediate effect”, read an order issued today by Surat Singh, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India.
Manipur University remained paralysed for months during the movement launched by MUSU, MUTA and the students demanding the removal of AP Pandey as the Vice Chancellor.
AP Pandey was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of MU in October 2016 and the demand to remove him reached its zenith in 2018.
The two member independent enquiry committee comprising of  T Nandakumar Singh, former acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya and Prof MK Choudhary, former Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University which  probed the administrative and financial irregularities of Prof AP Pandey submitted its report to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) on May 27, 2019.
Based on the findings of the enquiry committee, a show cause notice was served on Prof Adya Prasad Pandey on September 24, 2019 as to why he may not be removed from his post for the irregular financial and administrative activities including misconduct, dereliction of duties, abuse of power and lack of commitment on his part, which caused a great harm to the academic environment and bringing the University into disrepute.
Responding to the show cause notice, Prof Pandey gave a point-wise reply on October 11 last year.
 It emerged from the examination of his reply and the records received from the MU that during the period from October 26, 2016 to May 30, 2018, Prof AP Pandey remained away for about 189 days from MU and most of his absences from the headquarters could not be justified as per records available in the university.
The frequent absence of the Vice Chancellor from the headquarters (MU) affected its academic activities adversely. This displays lack of institutional commitment of Prof Adya Prasad Pandey and his failure to provide effective leadership and guidance to the university, read the dismissal order.
It further asserted that Prof AP Pandey  committed various  financial irregularities in purchases and execution of works without inviting tenders in violation of    provisions of General Financial  Rules  (GFRs) and excess purchases etc  in connection with organising the 105th Indian Science Congress, installation of smart class systems through ITI, Lucknow and purchase of blank mark-sheets and OMR answer copies without calling tender(s).
Prof Adya Prasad Pandey, Vice-Chancellor, Manipur University has failed miserably in performing duties assigned under Statute 3 (3) of the Manipur University Act, 2005. His acts of omission and commission are unbecoming of a person holding the post of Vice Chancellor, the order added.