JSCC accuses Jarnail of violating MU Act
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 15 2020: The Joint Students Coordination Committee (JSCC) has accused Manipur University Administrator Jarnail Singh of blatantly violating the Manipur University Act 2005.A statement issued by the JSCC asserted that the High Court of Manipur, while appointing Jarnail Singh to play a role and responsibility in restoring normalcy in MU, did not empower him to unfollow the constitution of Manipur University passed by the Indian Parliament.

Reacting to Jarnail Singh's statement, "The locking and opening of offices is the duty of office peons," the JSCC remarked that instead of trying to fully appreciate the circumstances leading to the locking of his office by the students dissatisfied as they are with his administration, he has the audacity of bringing in the term peon as inferior beings.

As his experience is only that as a civil servant, he must be assuming that the Professors in Manipur University who lock and open their rooms by themselves as nothing more than peons.

Jarnail Singh must be knowing his own age.

Even in the case of a properly appointed Vice Chancellor, none can remain in that position beyond the age of 70 years, it said.

Saying that Manipur University has started facing financial constraints as regular funding from the Centre is not happening, the JSCC questioned the qualification and expertise of the Finance Officer Jarnail Singh appointed out of his pocket.

Non-convening of the university court (the highest authority as per the Manipur University Act 2005) meetings, which should be there at least once a year, was one of the main reasons for the agitation against the continuance of Professor AP Pandey as Vice Chancellor.

But in his more than two years as the Court appointed Administrator, Jarnail Singh has not convened any meeting of the university court, it asserted.

Besides the disrespect to the norms indicated by the Manipur University Act 2005, Professor AP Pandey adopted one 'convenient' route for administration.

This is avoiding any consultation with the Chancellor of the University and allowing the position remained unfilled without attempting to have someone to listen to for wisdom and advice.

The interesting part is that Jarnail Singh, finds this equally attractive and follows the same route in utter violation of the clauses of the Manipur University Act.

Another utter violation of governance principles by Prof AP Pandey was the procurements and purchases made against proposals made by himself with administrative approval given by himself.

Jarnail Singh has been following the same Pandey principle very conveniently during the last two years.

The High Court definitely did not empower him to violate the governance principles and follow the methods adopted by Prof AP Pandey, it said.

Staying away from station and be outside in critical moments was the established behaviour of Prof AP Pandey.

Further overstaying outside beyond the stipulated date was also a trademark of Prof Pandey.

Now these qualities are being inherited robustly by Jarnail Singh, it alleged.

University recruitments to faculty should be chaired by a Professor of at least ten years stature in that position, if not the Vice Chancellor.

Jarnail Singh may like to put before the public his Professorship of ten years in any institute under the sun to claim propriety in the recruitments he had done, it continued.

Administration of research work in a university is no easy task but there are so many instances of compromise on capability and commitment on this in many decisions taken by Jarnail Singh.

The affiliation, permission for opening courses and the related issues have to follow the specified procedures and should be done under the leadership of the Deans concerned or the College Development Council.

Jarnail Singh has proved his administrative capability by adopting decisions and by utterly bypassing the academic authorities specified in the Manipur University Act 2005, the JSCC alleged.

While the normalcy in Manipur University was restored mainly by the commitment of the University community to intellectual advancement, the further continuance of Jarnail Singh is causing damages in a way much deeper than Prof Pandey did, it further alleged.

"Before irreparable damages happen, we earnestly feel that the Manipur University Act 2005 should be followed in spirit and in toto", it added.

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