MU Crisis- High Court suspended VC, Pro VC, appoints Administrator
Source: IT News
Imphal, October 11 2018:
In what can be termed as a possible breakthrough in the protracted standoff between the Pro VC and combined body of teachers and students which have crossed more than three months, the high court have passed a resolution to appoint Jarnail Singh, IAS(Retired), and former Chief Secretary of Manipur as the Administrator fully empowered to discharge the functions of the Vice-Chancellor as provided under the Manipur University Act, 2005 and such other relevant statutes, whose primary duty and responsibility is to bring normalcy in Manipur University.
Jarnail Singh had also served as Joint Secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister, with vast experience of administration in the State of Manipur and was awarded the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration for the year 2007-08 .
According to the directions of the high court, Jarnail Singh is also fully empowered to pass any such order(s) and/or to review and revoke any such order(s) and to do such act(s) as he may deem fit for bringing normalcy to the University and defuse the volatile situation by engaging in constant dialogue and interactions with all the stakeholders so long it is not contrary to any order of the Court.
The Administrator is also empowered to seek the assistance of the State Government and Union Respondent/Central Government in this regard who shall provide such assistance as may be necessary and requisitioned.
With no definite timeframe for expediting his duties, it has been directed that so long as the ADMINSTRATOR is functioning, The appointment of K.Yugindro Singh as the Pro-Vice Chancellor under order dated 11.09.2018 issued by Prof.Adya Prasad Pandey shall remain suspended, The appointment of Prof..WVishwanath Singh to look after the office of the Vice Chancellor vide order dated 01.08.2018 issued by Prof.Adya Prasad Pandey shall also remain suspended and the appointment of Shyamkesho Singh as Registrar in charge and Sri Sh.
Dorendrajit Singh as Registrar in charge shall also remain suspended.
The high court also directed the Visitor of the University/Union Respondent to ensure that the suspension of Adya Prasad Pandey as Vice Chancellor vide order dated 17.09.2018 issued by the Visitor of the University is continued and not revoked during the continuation of the office of the Court Appointed Administrator without specific leave of this Court.
All the authorities under the Manipur University Act, 2005 and all the respondents including the Union and State Respondents and Private Respondents are further directed to render their full co-operation and assistance to the Administrator in his duties to bring normalcy to the University and also, as and when the Administrator specifically seeks their assistance.
No authority, including under the Manipur University Act, 2005 shall have any authority to curtail the power and functions of the ADMINISTRATOR without specific leave of this Court, the direction further added.
With the latest development, there is widespread expectation that the turmoil besieging the Manipur University will finally come to an end and normalcy will return, but it still remains to be seen as to how far the directions of the court be followed- both in letter and in spirit.
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