Manipur University Teachers to go on Mass Casual Leave on August 1, 2013

Canchipur, 16th July, 2013

Manipur University Teachers' Association (MUTA)
Manipur University
Canchipur, Imphal


As declared by Manipur University Teachers' Association (MUTA) in its press release on July 2, 2013, as well as decided by the MUTA Executive Committee on July 11, 2013; Manipur University Teachers will go on One Day Mass Casual Leave on August 1, 2013 as the beginning of a series of protests against the University Authority especially Prof. H.N.K. Sarma, the Vice-Chancellor, for his manipulation in the constitution of 3rd Executive Council (EC) of Manipur University (MU), and nonfulfilling of several demands of the Association.

That, so far as the constitution of 3rd EC is concerned, there were not only manipulation and dishonour of the proceedings of MUTA by deviating from the tradition/convention followed for more than 33 years in the history of MU, but also misused the Office of the Chancellor by misinforming the Association by Prof. Sarma himself that Chancellor desires to have six names as against 3 names submitted by MUTA Office. In fact, he misled the general public by giving press briefing that he has not done anything wrong and done everything as per University Act. Such act of deceiving the public is unethical, condemnable and unbecoming of a V.C. of an institute of higher learning. So, his claim is unacceptable to MUTA.

Further, in order to cover up his autocratic style of functioning and ad-hoc running of the University, Prof. Sarma declared in the press that he has been trying to fill up the statutory as well as non-statutory posts since 2010-2011, but no qualified applicants were found; then sitting idle for the last more than 2 years, instead of advertising for every six months; and promising to start the process of filling up of the posts shortly when things started appearing in the media, are all self explanatory excuses of his autocratic style of functioning and non-committal to his duties.

For instance, there is no question of advertising and recruiting the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor (PVC), as the senior most professor is normally/traditionally appointed as the PVC. Because Prof. Sarma himself was also the PVC earlier by virtue of being the senior most professor at that time. However, now even after nearly two years of assuming office of the V.C., Prof. Sarma fails to fill up the position of PVC by following the same norm, in spite of repeated requests and ultimatum dateline of June 30, 2013 given by MUTA. Because Prof. Sarma himself knows best that by appointing the PVC, his unilateral decision making, autocratic functioning and ad-hoc running of the institute, without raising a single finger, will be hampered. And for the same reason he is not trying seriously to fill up all the positions by advertising regularly.

For Central Government Institutions and Organizations, if no qualified applicants of Finance Officer are found in repeated recruitment process, normally Comptroller Accountant General of India is requested to depute a competent person to look after the office of finance officer, as this is the most sensitive and sometimes controversial section. Besides, Manipur University Act, 2005, Statute 7(4) (p. 20) writes that “When the office of the Finance Officer is vacant or when the Finance Officer is, by reason of illness, absence or any other cause, unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of the office shall be performed by such person as the Vice-Chancellor may appoint for the purpose”. Instead, Prof. Sarma has been acting as Finance Officer, not only violating the act, but also making it apparently true of all allegations of misappropriation of public money.

What to talk about these, the extreme case of Prof. Sarma's autocratic functioning is that he has extended the service of his wife after superannuation by giving monthly honorarium much above the guest faculties without the approval of the EC. It is even alleged by some quarters that Prof. Sarma himself chaired the selection committee for promotion of his wife.

Prof. Sarma also claimed, in his press briefing that there is a lot of improvement and beautification in the University Campus. It is true that there may be beautification in the University campus after becoming a central University in 2005. However, the irony is that more than 70% of the Plan Budget is used for Minor Works (beautification, drain and wall constructions, earth filling, building repairing, etc.) only, and less than 30% for infrastructural development. As a result, the University Administration Block is now converted to another PWD Office where contract works have been given the first rung, and academic works the second rung. Because of these, even if there is no dearth of fund, the MU is still unable to have a separate Advance Instrumentation Center except piecemeal purchase of one or two instruments. A number of buildings, some of which are 20 years or more, remain uncompleted; many departments having inadequate space; more than 50% of the Departments are understaffed, with a mere total of 172 faculty members only, even after 33 years of its establishment. Whereas, in Assam University, Silchar, there are more than 300 faculty members although it is quite young.

Considering all these facts, the MUTA Executive Committee, in its meeting held on July 11, 2013, unanimously decided to request the Office of the Honourable Visitor, Manipur University and President of India, to institute an inquiry into these matters and initiate appropriate disciplinary action before further deteriorating the state of affairs of the University, and serious protests and public outcries are made. The Committee also agreed to forward copies of the resolutions for information to the Prime Ministers' Office, Ministry of Human Resources Development, UGC, etc.

Yours faithfully,

Prof. Maibam Ranjit Singh
President, MUTA

Prof. Soibam Ibotombi
Seretary, MUTA