Dimapur, July 7 (MExN): The Nagaland University Teachers’ Association (NUTA) has served an ultimatum to VC Prof. K Kannan, also chairman of the Executive Council, on July 6, to revoke all ‘illegal and irregular decisions’ within 14 days, taken by the Executive Council on June 27 at SETAM, Dimapur. Terming it as a serious violation of the University Act, statutes and recruitment rules of academic faculty appointments, the ultimatum has demanded that an emergency EC meeting must be convened within 14 days, to revoke the decisions which were taken against the interest of the university. The NUTA ultimatum was signed by Rosemary Dzuvichu, president of CEC NUTA and N. Venuh, secretary general of CEC NUTA.
In a separate note, the NUTA alleged that irregularities continue unabated in Nagaland University despite the pending CBI inquiry into financial dealings and a show-cause served to the Vice Chancellor by the President of India. The show-cause was for illegally cancelling the selection of a Tenyidie candidate and opening a fourth campus at Dimapur without approval from the boards or councils of the university.
Meanwhile, according to the ultimatum it was alleged that the Vice Chancellor had violated recruitment rules by bringing the names of ten candidates in the category of Lecturer, to the EC meeting, without the knowledge and verification of the departments in concern.
According to the NUTA, under the Nagaland University Act only “the Executive Council may invite a person of high academic distinction” and no one, not even the VC or Executive Council, is above the University Act and Statutes. The NUTA also questioned the Vice Chancellor as to under what academic distinctions these ten names of candidates for Lecturer, were placed before the Executive Council. Terming it as highly objectionable the NUTA went on to allege that the Vice Chancellor has violated the rules and regulations of University recruitment procedures and tried to appoint such candidates through a back door policy, without the recommendation of the Departments or the Screening Committees.
The NUTA has also questioned the new Registrar of Nagaland University Dr.P.H.Naik, alleging that he submitted the name of his candidate and lobbied for his appointment as a Professor of Mathematics, violating recruitment rules, in the 20th Executive Council meeting. “When the Department of Mathematics is yet to start and advertisements have not been floated, it is highly objectionable that within two weeks of his joining Nagaland University, the Registrar is trying to manipulate and bring his own candidates, without following laid down procedures”, the NUTA stated and reminded that the Registrar was only the Ex-Officio Secretary and not a member of the EC and cannot manipulate and bring his candidates for appointments, through the back door.
It was also disclosed that the decision of the Executive Council in authorizing the Vice Chancellor to visit various Institutes and Universities to attract good number of talented candidates for recruitment to the post of Teaching and Non- teaching is highly objectionable and irregular. “The question of attracting talented candidates does not arise, as there are enough qualified talented candidates who are readily available in different disciplines. The Vice Chancellor and the Executive Council Members should not underestimate the local Naga candidates. If given the chance, these candidates have proved they are much better than candidates from outside”, stated the NUTA. Pointing out that Nagaland University suffers from lack of infrastructure; however, academically it is one of the best Central Universities and is fourteen years old, with its Act, Statute and Ordinances. “Therefore, sending the Vice Chancellor to hunt and recruit candidates outside University procedures, spending University funds is highly objectionable”. It was also reminded to the Executive Council Members that there are only a few teachers who have left this University for other Universities. “The reason for their departure is the victimization, discrimination and disrespect towards the teaching community that they faced with Prof. Kannan, which finally forced them to seek jobs elsewhere”.
The NUTA also questioned under what rules and regulations the candidatures of the 7 candidates have been accepted, when they have not applied for the posts before the last date. “All formalities of screening have been completed for other applicants who had applied within the stipulated time. Therefore, the NUTA questions the intention of the Vice Chancellor in bringing the names of these candidates before the Executive Council and seeking permission from the EC to allow screening these candidatures, which is highly illegal and against recruitment rules and procedures of the University”.
Further NUTA has strongly objected to the Vice Chancellor’s action of calling the Executive Council meeting, before the minutes of the Academic Council could be released to the AC Members for perusal. This has led to manipulation and distortion of Academic Council decisions in the EC meeting, the NUTA alleged. Stating that the AC had agreed to adoption of the Ordinance, subject to rectification of anomalies within one month, however, within eight days, the VC has called for the EC meeting and approved the Ordinance, with rectifications within one week. “It is even more questionable on the motives of the Vice Chancellor that the Registrar has been sent to Delhi with the incomplete Ordinance to be submitted to the MHRD on the 2nd July 09, before proposals for rectification of anomalies could be made”. NUTA stated that it will not accept the incomplete Ordinance and demand that necessary rectifications are submitted by various Departments within the stipulated time, as decided in the AC meeting.
The decision of the EC to authorize the University administration to recruit deputationists and others on lien basis to various positions in the University has also being questioned. In this regard the NUTA reiterated its demand that all vacant posts in teaching /non teaching must be through direct regular recruitment and not through deputation and lien basis. “It is already on record that the University has lost the case of the Rs.1.05 crore scandal of the PM’s package, which was siphoned off during the tenure of a previous Executive Engineer on deputation from the PWD, Govt of Nagaland”, NUTA alleged while adding that the Vice Chancellor has intentionally failed to hold interviews during the past one year, for many vacant posts in Teaching and non teaching, even though there were enough candidates who have been listed for such interviews.
NUTA also pointed out that the VC had miserably failed to regularize the services of contract teachers who have faithfully served this University for ten to twelve years in different academic departments. As such NUTA questioned the Executive Council, whether such candidates are not experienced enough in University teaching to be recruited for such vacant posts while arguing that Nagaland already has a surfeit of educated, qualified candidates for such posts and therefore, it is highly questionable, that the EC has taken a decision to employ persons who are already employed, through deputation or lien basis.
The NUTA reiterated that there was no clause in the University Act and Statutes which empowers the Vice Chancellor to take appropriate decision to appoint suitable persons in any position in the University. Instead, according to the NUTA the Act clearly stipulates that “the duty of the Vice Chancellor is to see that the Act, Statutes, the Ordinance and regulations are duly observed”. The NUTA also reminded that the Visitor, President of India, has clearly directed the Vice Chancellor to take action against all corrupt officers and divest them of their authority, including the present Controller of Examination. Therefore, the EC decision on this issue is highly questionable and against the directive of the Visitor, according to NUTA.
