The Manipur University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) today staged a sit-in demonstration inside the university campus, alleging violation of statutory provisions in the appointment of the in-charge Vice-Chancellor.
The protest was held against what the association described as a breach of Statute 2(6) of the Manipur University Act, 2005, which provides that the Pro-Vice Chancellor or the seniormost professor shall discharge the duties of the Vice-Chancellor until a regular appointment is made.
According to the association, former Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. Lokendra completed his tenure on May 7, after which Prof. Sumitra Phanjoubam, being the seniormost faculty member, was assigned the charge of acting Vice-Chancellor, as MU has no Pro VC. However, on May 14, the Ministry of Education’s Department of Higher Education reportedly issued a communication approving the assignment of Prof. Ganga Prasad Parsain from the Department of Commerce as in-charge Vice-Chancellor.
MUTA alleged that the directive did not cite any reason for replacing Prof. Sumitra, and further contended that the subsequent order issued by the Manipur University Registrar appointing Prof. Parsain as in-charge VC amounted to a “clear deviation” from the provisions of the University Act. The association pointed out that Prof. Parsain is third in the order of seniority, and questioned the legality of bypassing the established statutory hierarchy.
During the demonstration, faculty members displayed placards reading “Safeguard MU Act 2005”, “Defend Statutory Rights”, “No Violation of MU Act”, and “Statute First”.
While the protest highlighted strong opposition to the administrative decision, MUTA did not announce any immediate escalation of its agitation or specify further action regarding the May 14 order appointing the new in-charge Vice-Chancellor.
Speaking to media persons, Dr. Yumkhaibam Rajesh Singh said that the MUTA has no problem to the appointment of any eligible person as VC of the University as per the Manipur University Act. He said that the order by the Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education for handing over the charge of VC of Manipur University is in complete violation of the Manipur University Act 2005. This cannot be accepted by the MUTA, he added.