KSA alleges irregularities in MU recruitment; High Court stays process

The Kangleipak Students’ Association has launched a strong attack on the authorities of Manipur University over the recent non-teaching staff recruitment, alleging serious violations of statutory provisions and established procedures.
Addressing a press briefing, General Secretary Huirongbam Babloo stated that the university proceeded with the recruitment process despite clear directives that the Cadre Recruitment Rules must receive approval from the Visitor before implementation. He referred to a 2021 communication from the University Grants Commission which stated that recruitment cannot be undertaken without the Visitor’s approval of the Recruitment Rules. He further cited a directive issued on May 25, 2023, by the Ministry of Education reiterating the same requirement.
Despite these instructions, the university carried out the recruitment under Advertisement No. 2/2025 and declared the results on February 23, 2026. The Association alleged that the process was conducted in disregard of mandatory approval requirements and raised questions over the role of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. N. Lokendra, and certain members of the Executive Council who supported the exercise.
Challenging the legality of the recruitment, a petition was filed before the High Court of Manipur. On February 25, 2026, a Division Bench of the Court issued a stay order directing that all proceedings related to the non-teaching recruitment, including issuance of appointment orders, be kept in abeyance until further orders. The Court made it clear that no appointment shall be made pending adjudication of the matter.
The Association welcomed the stay order and expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice of the High Court, Mr. M. Sunder, for what it termed a timely intervention. It asserted that during the next hearing it would press for complete cancellation of the recruitment conducted under Advertisement No. 2/2025.
Huirongbam Babloo further contended that the Manipur University Act does not contain any explicit enabling provision authorising the framing of Cadre Recruitment Rules in the manner adopted by the university. He stated that despite objections raised by members of the university community, the authorities proceeded with the process. The stay order, he noted, has taken cognisance of concerns regarding Statute 31(1)(p), observing that it does not expressly empower the framing of such Recruitment Rules, thereby casting doubt on their legal validity.
Recalling the sequence of events, the Association stated that the recruitment was initially notified in May 2025 and later deferred on October 10, 2025, without any official explanation. It alleged that after certain university officials visited Delhi, the process was revived on the claim that verbal clearance had been received from the Ministry of Education. A fresh notice was issued on January 27, 2026, examinations were conducted from January 29, and results were declared on February 23.
The Association warned that if accountability is not fixed and corrective measures are not taken, those responsible for what it described as an unlawful and unethical process would face sustained public scrutiny. It maintained that the integrity of the university and adherence to statutory norms must take precedence over administrative expediency.