Unfolding the dirtiest of the dirty game played to victimise people trying to save MU
- Imphal Times Editorial :: September 27 2018 -

The Highest educational institution or rather say ‘the highest temple of learning’ in the state of Manipur has been always in the news during the last couple of decades not for any good causes.

This is also the only University with military camp being set up inside the campus, perhaps in the entire country.

Corruption, Nepotism, brute political gamble all happen and people who have less knowledge of the ground reality never seems to know that almost all development and welfare programme of the state are the products of the University community who have been dedicating with sincerity.

In conflict ridden state like Manipur unwanted things happened. There were incident of Professors being shot or killed or kidnapped.

There were occasion when students having different ideology clashed.

But everything happening around is being studied either in practice or in theory.

Thus, it is natural that issues of differences happen in University and everyone knows - faculties , students and research scholars keep themselves occupied with the issues and find a solution by organising seminar, workshops etc.

The ongoing crisis in the Manipur University, this time is completely different from those happened earlier.

This time, the impasse is about honouring of the rules of law between groups who claimed to be following the rules of law.

This impasse, which is likely to continue for more days is a fight between academicians equipped with knowledge of what is wrong and what is right on one side and another academician backed by powerful politicians who can influence those in the upper hand.

This impasse is rather an experiment to show that University should be under the control of the government.

The way things now precede appeared to tell the people that there are two different version of Manipur University Act.

The matter went more complex when MHRD recognized the Pro VC Prof. Yugindro , who was appointed by the VC AP Pandey when he was on leave until the enquiry committee constituted by them on the approval of Chancellor Prof Nachane Dilip Madhukar.

Prof. Pandey’s arguments about extending his leave by lower staff has been dismissed as the one giving leave was with the approval of his superior.

To the side of the Manipur government, it would be wrong to only listen the one side story of AP Pandey over the legitimacy to the appointment of Pro VC.

The Government has a law department and it seems like it was never discussed on the ground that the state government have no jurisdiction over the Manipur University matter.

But as it was the state government to handle the volatile situation over the claim and counter claim of legitimacy over the appointment at least the government should think twice before acting “Yes Sir” mentality to their superior.

As per the existing University Act, it has been stated that the Pro VC shall be appointed by the Executive Council on the recommendation of the Vice Chancellor.

It also stated that if the recommendation of the VC is not accepted by the Executive Council, the matter shall be referred to the visitor who may either appoint the person recommended by the VC or asked the VC to recommend another person to the executive Council.

Question need to arises is - Is prof. AP Pandey who had been given leave until the enquiry is completed? AP Pandey did challenge to the court but the hearing is still pending.

When court is yet to announce his position how could the government recognize him as the VC. Above all as per the MoA , signed on August 16, Prof. Vishwanath has been handed over the charge of the VC.

September 20, midnight raids as per a complaint by an self proclaimed Pro VC, that still needs to look into the the legitimacy of his becoming the Pro VC , is perhaps the 2nd biggest mistake committee by the state Government.

The first was allowing of a mass rally in front of Manipur University on August 7.

As this paper had time and again pointed out that it will not be easy to fool the MU community with habitual tricks, the MU Community now had understand how they have been bluff .

The hidden agenda on why those who broke the sealed room at Manipur University Administrative Block by the directives of the Secretary of the enquiry committee is a matter need to be pondered.

Why those papers and evidences been taken out by the District Magistrate when the government knows that University affairs is out of the purview of the state authority.

Something fishy seems to be going on which every people of the state felt ‘ a dirty game being played’ to make sure that the one person win the battle.

But Manipuris never defeated at any intrusion. The bloods of our ancestors who gave their lives still run to the veins of 1000s sons and daughters of the soil.