The Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA) has accused Manipur University of gross irregularities and violation of recruitment norms in the appointment of a professor in the Department of Teacher Education.
In a statement, KSA president Sukham Bidyananda alleged that the university authority appointed one Pavan Kumar Yadav as professor in February 2024, despite him not meeting the essential qualifications specified in the official recruitment notification issued on February 23, 2024. The notification clearly required a PhD with at least 10 years of teaching experience in a teacher education institution. However, according to KSA, Yadav had only eight years of experience at KMM College of Education, Andhra Pradesh.
The association further revealed that Yadav’s earlier role as Principal of KMM College in 2009 also violated NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education) Regulations, 2009, which mandate that a principal must possess both a PhD and five years of teaching experience in a teacher education institute. Records indicate that Yadav obtained his PhD only in March 2010, raising serious doubts about the authenticity of his appointment as principal.
KSA also pointed out that his teaching stint at the Department of Special Needs and Inclusive Education, Ambo University, cannot be counted as experience under the criteria mentioned in the notification. The student body questioned how Manipur University failed to verify the candidate’s credentials, including pay slips and bank statements, before confirming his appointment.
Calling the recruitment a blatant act of favouritism and nepotism, KSA held the present Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University directly responsible for allowing such irregularities to occur. The association urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education to launch an immediate probe and take punitive action against those involved.
KSA warned that such unethical practices undermine the credibility of Manipur University and deprive deserving scholars of opportunities. It vowed to continue exposing corruption in higher education institutions, stating that the recruitment scandal reflects a deeper rot within the university’s administrative system that must be urgently addressed to protect academic integrity and public trust.