AMSU demands high level committee to probe appointment of VC in-charge
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 17 2026:
Expressing concern over the controversy surrounding the appointment of the Vice Chancellor (VC) in-charge of Manipur University (MU), the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) has urged all concerned to stop engaging in activities that undermine the University's integrity, stability and academic environment.
AMSU, in a statement issued by its publicity and information secretary Yumnam Clinton Mangang, also questioned the alleged silence of the Manipur University Teachers' Association (MUTA) on the issue.
Further, the student organisation appealed to teachers, student bodies and other stakeholders concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from disrupting academic activities, admission process, research work or the academic calendar of MU and its affiliated colleges.
AMSU emphasised that the present controversy should be resolved through lawful, transparent, and democratic institutional mechanisms.
It also said that MU must function strictly within the framework of the University Act, Statutes, administrative transparency and established norms.
On the issue surrounding the appointment of VC in-charge, AMSU demanded that the competent authority constitute a high level fact finding committee to examine the matter.
Meanwhile, AMSU, citing provisions of the Manipur University Act, 2005 and the relevant statutes of the University, said "If the office of VC becomes vacant due to death, resignation or otherwise, or if he is unavailable to perform his duties due to ill health or any other cause , the Pro-VC shall perform the duties of the VC" .
AMSU also said that the senior-most Professor should perform the duties of the VC until a new VC assumes office or the existing VC resume duties as the case may be if the Pro-VC is not available.
It also said that the Registrar of MU issued an order on May 6, 206, officially handing over the charge of the VC in-charge to Prof Sumitra Phanjoubam from the Physics Department.
As the senior-most Prof, she is designated to perform the duties of VC in-charge under Statute 2(6) of the University Statutes following the conclusion of the outgoing regular VC's tenure, AMSU said.
It said that another contradictory notification, however, was issued by the Registrar on May 7, 2026 .
As per AMSU, the new order stated that Prof Sumitra will be the VC in-charge with effect from May 7, 2026 until she attains the age of 65 or a new VC assumes the office or an instruction comes from the Ministry of Education, whichever is earlier.
AMSU said that such contradictory notifications have raised serious questions and confusion regarding the interpretation of the University Statutes and established administrative conventions.
It said that a senior-most Professor may perform the duties of VC in-charge only after obtaining approval from the competent authorities such as the Visitor of the university and the Ministry of Education as per the University convention.
In this regard, AMSU questioned why the University authority failed to inform the competent authorities in advance before the expiry of the tenure of the regular VC .
The student organisation also raised questions before the University and other relevant authorities regarding the "apparent contradiction" between the provisions of MU Statutes and the subsequent administrative development relating to the appointment of Prof Ganga Prasad Prasain as the VC in-charge on May 14, 2026 .
AMSU urged all concerned to clarify whether the provisions of the University Statutes independently empowers the University to appoint a VC in-charge under Statute 2(6) or whether the Minister of Education may independently appoint a VC in-charge by overriding or superseding such statutory arrangements.
AMSU also questioned whether the controversy arose due to communication gap, administrative lapses or lack of coordination between the University authority and the Ministry of Education.
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