Manipur | HRD may reach out to President for MU vice-chancellor’s longer leave

IMPHAL, September 5, 2018: Following tensions that flared up at Manipur University again after vice-chancellor Adya Prasad Pandey returned to work this month, the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry is considering seeking President's approval to send Pandey on a longer compulsory leave.

The ministry on Tuesday held discussions to consider various options to defuse the situation on the campus, which has been shut since May 30. It opened only on August 22 when the V-C was on leave but his return this month has triggered a fresh crisis.

Since the President is visitor to all the central universities his sanction would be necessary. The ministry is seriously considering sending the V-C on a longer leave till peace returns to the campus. The ministry may even consider Pandey's removal if things remain unchanged.

Pandey, the former HoD of Economics at BHU,was appointed V-C of Manipur University in October 2016. While there would be rare precedents of V-Cs being compulsorily sent on leave or removed pending an inquiry, law and order concerns in the insurgency-hit state may warrant this action.

Manipur chief minister Biren Singh has also spoken up about the necessity to send Pandey on leave.

TNT News with ET inputs

Featured Image: Indian Express