President to look into complaint on Nalanda VC's compentency

Updated on: Thursday, November 17, 2011

President Pratibha Patil in her capacity as the Visitor of the Nalanda International University would look into any complaint about competence of its Vice-Chancellor Dr Gopa Sabharwal, former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said today.

"The Visitor will look into any complaint against Sabharwal," Kalam, who recently dissociated himself from the Nalanda university project as its Visitor, said in reply to a question by ruling JD(U) MLA Irshad Ahmed during an interactive session in the state assembly premises.

Irshad Ahmed alleged that Sabharwal, earlier a Reader of New Delhi's Lady Sriram College, lacked adequate experience to lead this ambitious project.

Sabharwal's appointment as the VC was opposed by a group of academicians recently.

"The Visitor is the competent authority to appoint vice-chancellor and other teachers for the university. I have full confidence that she will take a decision in this respect with due consideration of related subjects," Kalam said.

Kalam, one of the key players behind the revival of Nalanda University, has opted out of the project apparently realising that he has no crucial role to play.

He has distanced himself from the multi-nation project, citing conferment of Central University status to the institution wherein critical powers like appointment of vice chancellor would be with the incumbent President.

Despite the law, the Centre and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had requested Kalam to continue as Visitor but he refused to reconsider his decision.

Meanwhile, Kalam was showered with questions by MLAs during the interactive session the former president promptly responded to the queries ranging from education, agriculture, carbon emission to Maoists menace.

To a question, the former president said it would be better for the farmers to market their products by setting up cooperative committees to take on the MNCs.

On BJP MLA Achyutanand Singh's question on carbon emission, he praised the efforts of the state government saying the campaign for greenery in the state could come in handy in combating emission of carbon as such efforts were also being made in other countries.

To a question on his views on corruption, Kalam said one should discharge duties with integrity to provide a corruption-free governance.

He lauded the state government for its efforts to combat corruption.

President to look into complaint on Nalanda VC's compentency

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