A fresh controversy has erupted at Manipur University after Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. Lokendro abruptly left for New Delhi, postponing the recruitment test scheduled for today to fill several key teaching posts, including Assistant Professors (one OBC in Statistics, one UR in Physics, one UR in Chemistry) and one Professor (UR in Physics).
The sudden postponement, confirmed through an official university order, has raised serious questions over transparency and timing, especially as the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, had already issued a notification on September 26 inviting applications for the post of Vice-Chancellor, signaling that Prof. Lokendro’s tenure is nearing completion.
According to reports, the Ministry’s directive clearly instructs that no major administrative or recruitment decisions should be taken within two months of the completion of a Vice-Chancellor’s tenure. While the notice aims to prevent outgoing VCs from making far-reaching decisions before a successor is appointed, it does not explicitly clarify whether ongoing recruitment processes—advertised prior to the issuance of the VC appointment notice—fall under this restriction.
This grey area in the directive has sparked debate within the academic community. Critics argue that any recruitment conducted during a transition period could be construed as ethically questionable, potentially influencing the administrative environment for the incoming Vice-Chancellor. Others, however, contend that if the recruitment advertisement predates the MoE’s notification, the process remains valid unless explicitly suspended by higher authority.
Prof. Lokendro’s sudden departure to Delhi has further deepened the mystery. University sources have not confirmed the purpose of his visit, though speculation is rife that it may be linked to the ongoing administrative scrutiny over recent decisions taken during the final phase of his tenure.
Faculty members and students have voiced concerns that such administrative ambiguity erodes public confidence in the university’s governance. “If the Ministry’s notice was intended to ensure fair transition, why was clarity not given on processes already in motion?” a faculty member remarked on condition of anonymity.