FESOK alleges Govt apathy towards DMU
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 05 2024:
Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) came into being under the DMU Act, 2017 with the convergence of five reputed institutions namely DM College of Science, DMC Arts, DMC Commerce, GP Women's College and LMS Law College, on April 8,2018.However, due to failure to stand alone as a university, the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a notification on January 17 this year, placing DMU among the default ing list of universities.
As such, the students, teachers and parents and guardians are growing increasingly frustrated with the government's lack of interest towards the varsity, said Federal Students' Organisation, Kangleipak (FESOK) vice president Nameirakpam Rikesh Mangang.
In a press meet held at FESOK's Naorem Leikai Primary School office on Sunday, Rikesh informed that when the Federation investigated the reason for DMU placed in the defaulting-list, it found the varsity to be in a rather unique situation.
DMU did not have any regular employee except for the vice chancellor, who, unfortunately retired on April 27 this year.
The university is bereft of registrar, deputy registrar, assistant registrar, controller of examinations, deputy controller of examinations, finance officer, faculty and non-teaching staff.
As DMU failed to comply with any of the mandated requirements mentioned under Section 12 (B) of the UGC Act, 1956, it is not receiving any grant.
Although UGC ordered for meeting the requirements by December 31 last year, the state government seemingly ignored the matter and did not appoint any Ombudsman (S) for the university, thereby leading to the varsity falling in the defaulting list, he conveyed.
On December 20, 2020, the varsity issued a notification for recruitment of 88 posts of assistant professor for 22 departments.
In accordance with the advertisement, the interview for the eligible candidates was conducted by June, 2022, but the results remain undeclared till date.
Apart from this, the result of the written test and interview for the posts of 169 non-teaching staff (registrar, deputy registrar, assistant registrar, controller of examinations, deputy controller of examinations, deputy finance officer) is yet to be declared.
He continued that when FESOK investigated the reason for non-declaration of the results, it was found that the secretary to chief minister and special secretary (cabinet /DP/planning) blocked the same repeatedly from June, 2022 onwards.
In this regard, the university forwarded multiple soft reminders on February 10 and June 14 of last year, but the secretary refused to entertain the same and continue to suppress the matter.
Questioning what issue the secretary has with the university, Rikesh recounted an order of the Manipur High Court, which ensured the declaration of the results of 83 assistant professor posts for 22 departments on February 29 this year.
However, the offer form, which was to be issued to the selected teachers by May 5, has not been provided till date.
Thus, he questioned the government authorities concerned the reason for not providing the offer letter.
As per Section 12 (B) of The UGC Act, 1956, unrecognised universities have a hard time functioning.
Faculties cannot pursue a project, and research scholars cannot receive a stipend as there is no UGC grant sanctioned, and there will lack of proper a library or laboratories.
If the government continues to ignore the matter, DMU is certain to be blacklisted and ceased to exist which would greatly affect the academic career of the students.
Thus, he urged the chief minister, education minister and the authority concerned to look into the matter at the earliest.
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