Social activist Asem Roshan has alleged serious irregularities in the approval of posts at Pravabati College, Mayang Imphal, and urged the Directorate of University and Higher Education, Government of Manipur, to conduct a fresh screening of the appointments.
In a video statement, Roshan claimed that when the college was granted aided status, the then Principal, Gurumayum Premchand Sharma, submitted a list of 17 employees to the Directorate on March 13, 2024, for approval. He alleged that the list contained incorrect dates of initial appointment and joining, and that several unqualified employees were approved while eligible candidates were excluded.
Roshan said the allegations were based on information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, records published in Manipur University’s College Statistics, and documents furnished by the Directorate. According to him, the records revealed discrepancies in the details submitted for approval.
He further alleged that the Directorate approved the appointments despite the employees not meeting the required educational qualifications under the UGC Regulations and the Manipur Government College Lecturer Recruitment Rules of 1989, 1997 and 1998.
Referring to the July 26, 2017 judgment of the High Court of Manipur in WP(C) No. 968 of 2016, Irom Sophia Devi vs. State of Manipur and Others, Roshan said the Court had ruled that educational qualifications for appointments in aided colleges could not be relaxed and had set aside the Government order dated November 22, 2016, granting such relaxation.
He alleged that while many qualified candidates, including Ph.D. holders, remain unemployed, unqualified individuals have been accommodated in aided colleges in violation of the Manipur Education Code, 1982. He also claimed that recruitment norms for aided colleges differ from those followed in Government colleges, creating inconsistencies in the higher education system.
Roshan urged the Government and the Directorate to re-screen all appointments approved for Pravabati College in accordance with the prescribed rules and qualifications.
