CBI given green signal, search on for new VC
MU engineers in graft fire
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 31 2011:
The Executive Council (EC) of Manipur University has given the prosecution sanction to the CBI to probe four senior engineers of the varsity's engineering cell under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.
The new development comes at a time when seven senior Professors including six from MU are vying for the post of Vice Chancellor of the varsity.
In its meeting held on Monday at the varsity's Canchipur complex here the Executive Council among other points agreed to issue sanction of prosecution against the four� Executive Engineer (civil), University Engineer (in-charge), Assistant Engineer (civil) and Engineering Supervisorto the CBI , disclosed some key functionaries of the Manipur University Teachers' Association (Muta) today.
The decision was taken following a request made by the CBI in connection with an earlier FIR.
Though the explicit reason behind the matter was not known, the teachers said it might be linked to certain irregularities pertaining to contract works in the varsity.
They nevertheless said following the investigation carried out by CBI into the gunning down of the varsity Professor and Proctor Md Islamuddin in May 2009, some files were taken by the agency from the varsity.
There had been cases of sanctioning work orders to contractors without holding proper tender process, they said while lamenting that things went something wrong on the administrative and financial fronts after the varsity was taken over by the Centre.
Instances were also there of manipulating tender records for awarding certain works inside the varsity complex including improving of roads to contractors of their choice, they said.
" To streamline the irregularities brewing in the varsity and enhance the academic growth in the long run, we have full confidence that the search committee as well as the office of the President of India will definitely appoint the new VC," one of them said.
During a recent meeting held at New Delhi the three-member search committee with RM Bathew, former Chairman of UPSC as its chairman, listed 7 senior Professors as the possible new incumbent.
Of them six are from MU including HNK Sharma (current acting VC), G Jiten Sharma, RK Garita, N Irabanta, SK Srivastava, Amar Yumnam and RL Hangloo of University of Hyderabad.
On Saturday an interaction between the seven Professors and the search committee was held at Delhi, the Muta members said adding that the committee will shortlist three Professors after which the President of India, who is also visitor of MU, will finally appoint the VC from the shortlisted 3 .