Academics slam education department for PU probe order

Updated on: Monday, January 30, 2012

Setting up of inquiry committees by the state government against the alleged irregularities in Patna and Magadh universities has stirred up a hornet's nest in the academic circles. Academics have taken strong exception to the government action in instituting inquiries against the vice-chancellors on its own sweet will and urged the chief minister to intervene in the matter and safeguard the autonomy of the universities.

Deans of as many as five faculties of Patna University (PU), including Bharti S Kumar of social sciences, Rakesh Verma of law, Ashutosh Kumar of education, S M Ashok of humanities and Umesh Mishra of commerce, said that the inquiry set up by the education department against PU vice-chancellor on the basis of complaint made by some self-styled student leaders is in utter violation of the PU Act and statutes. Identity and antecedence of these "students" should have been ascertained before initiating any probe. "In the last few years, these students have been disturbing the peace of the university on one pretext or the other. They had the audacity to abuse and insult the VC in his office chamber," they said.

They further observed that setting up of an inquiry committee by the government against the VC with officers much below in rank and protocol is not only funny but also shows the clout of these student leaders in the higher hierarchy of the government. It is noteworthy that, for the first time in the history of PU, an inquiry has been set up by the government against the VC on the basis of a complaint made by such elements against whom the university has initiated disciplinary action for their misconduct, they added.

Bihar Public Service Commission's former member and PU English teacher Shiv Jatan Thakur has expressed his grave concern over the erosion of the rule of law in the education department by constituting an inquiry committee against the PU VC in blatant violation of the statutory law.

Referring to the Section 10 (2) of the university Act, Thakur asserted that in respect to the administrative lapses of the university officials, the power to constitute inquiry committee is conferred exclusively on the chancellor, no one else. It is absolutely unlawful for the education department to order inquiry against the lapses of the PU VC. The constitution of inquiry committee on the receipt of frivolous complaint by one who is punished for indiscipline by the vice-chancellor makes a mockery of the doctrine of jurisprudence by the department presided over by the former advocate general of Bihar, who is the current education minister.

Times of India

Academics slam education department for PU probe order

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