PIL on MU issue
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 24 2018: A Division Bench of the High Court of Manipur admitted a PIL filed in connection with the Manipur University issue and fixed July 2 7 for the hearing of the PIL.

The PIL was filed before the Division Bench, comprising of Chief Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice N Kotiswar Singh, through the counsel of the petitioner against the State of Manipur represented by the Chief Secretary, the Union of India through the Secretary (Higher Education) Ministry of Human Resource Development, Secretary, University Grants Commission and Manipur University, represented by the Registrar.

The petitioner's counsel submitted that the PIL has been filed on behalf of the people of Manipur, especially the student community and the academic community and prayed for giving appropriate directions to the respondents to bring an amicable solution at the earliest so as to guarantee and safeguard the rights of the student community.

The petitioner's counsel also submitted that Manipur University is one of the premier academic institutions of the country but is presently in a crisis due to the shutdown since May 30 following the demand to remove present Vice Chancellor Professor Adya Prasad Pandey by the students of Manipur University.

It was further submitted that in the recent past, the university has witnessed several untoward incidents between the administration on one hand and the students, teaching staff and non- teaching staff on the other.

The counsel also submitted that MUSU had made several allegations of administrative and several financial lapses against the present VC of Manipur University, which is being refuted by the VC.

The students of the university are demanding the removal of incumbent VC AP Pandey.

The allegations against the VC are supported by the teaching and non teaching staff of Manipur University and the crisis has deepened so much that the student community spearheaded several agitation and called a total shut down of the university.

As a consequence of the present crisis of MU, the examination results of several courses, such as Master courses of the university and the graduation courses of various affiliated colleges under MU, have not been declared and there is a prospect of many students losing their academic year.

The present impasse has led to a law and order crisis in the State, the counsel added.

The counsel further submitted that it is clearly mentioned in the Manipur University Act 2005 under section 2 (6 ) that if the Pro- Vice Chancellor is not available, the senior most Professor shall perform the duties of Vice Chancellor until a new VC assumes office or the existing VC resumes his office works.

It was further submitted that appointing a senior most Professor to look after the duties of VC will enable resumption of all administrative functions such as resumption of normal classes, declaration of results of examination, issuance of certificate etc with immediate effect thus saving thousands of students.

The Division Bench, after hearing the submission fixed July 27 for the hearing of the PIL.

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