Six student bodies — AIMS, AMSU, DESAM, KSA, MSF and SUK, on Friday submitted representations to the President, who is also the Visitor of MU, chancellor of MU, Union Minister of Education, Manipur governor, and chief minister
TFM Desk
Six major student bodies of Manipur have demanded appointment of a regular vice chancellor of Manipur University which has been lying vacant since June 2018.
The student bodies — Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF) and Students’ Union of Kangleipak (SUK), on Friday submitted representations to the President, who is also the Visitor of MU, chancellor of MU, Union Minister of Education, Manipur governor, and chief minister N Biren Singh, in this regard.
The representation jointly signed by the six student bodies argued that the absence of a regular VC has created a lot of academic and administrative problems of the university thereby adversely impacting the teaching learning process of the university.
Appointment of regular teaching and non-teaching staff, procurement of laboratory equipment and library books which are crucial for conducting online or offline classes of the students and even providing minimum facilities in the hostels and classrooms of the various departments of the University are being hampered due to the absence of a regular VC. The university has not been holding its court meeting and convocation since 2015, it added.
The representation further mentioned that the incumbent VC was dismissed by the visitor of the university in February 2020 and the post was advertised for regular appointment in March 2020. Since November 2018, the university had been under the control of a court appointed administrator till November 30, 2020 when the High Court of Manipur discharged him from the responsibility. From December 10 onwards, the university has been under the control of two VC in charge, the present one succeeding the earlier on February 1, 2021 after his superannuation.
Meanwhile, the student bodies stated that the Ministry of Education, Government of India had conducted an Interaction programme of the shortlisted candidates for appointment of a regular VC of Manipur University on August 19 and 20, 2020.
The student bodies also said that the committee had submitted a panel of candidates to the Ministry of Education. However for reasons not known the appointment has not been finalised till.
The six student bodies urged the Union Education Minister to expedite the process of appointing a regular VC of MU.The erstwhile Manipur University which was established in 1980 by an Act of State Legislature was converted into a Central University by a Parliamentary Act on October 13, 2005.