HT Bureau
GUWAHATI/KOKRAJHAR, July 27: The state government has constituted a ‘high-level’ inquiry committee to look into the charges of financial and other irregularities at state-run Bodoland University.
Headed by an additional chief secretary, the panel was asked to submit its report within a month, an official release said.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who is also the Chancellor of the Kokrajhar-based varsity, set up the panel.
“The committee will look into all the reported irregularities (of Bodoland University) and submit its report in one month,” said the release, issued on Wednesday night.
Additional chief secretary (Higher Education) Biswaranjan Samal is the chairman of the panel, while IIT Guwahati professor Dr S K Deb and Tezpur University finance officer Dr B B Mishra are appointed as its members.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Laishram Ladu Singh, who has secured an anticipatory bail, has not been attending office for the past few days, university officials said.
Led by the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), several organisations have been protesting against the irregularities allegedly committed by prof Singh.
ABSU president Dipen Boro said that despite being accused of corruption charges by Chief Minister’s Vigilance & Anti-Corruption (V&AC) wing earlier, Singh continues to hold the post of the varsity, located in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
“He must be removed from the present position of VC of BU and be suspended immediately. It is unwise that a person accused of criminal charges is holding such a prestigious position. So, to prevent further corrupt practice by Prof Singh, urgent action is desired,” he said.
On July 20, ABSU and Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) staged a demonstration in front of the university demanding immediate suspension of the VC.
Later, ABSU locked the office chamber of Singh. The students’ union had also threatened that if the government did not remove him within a week, it would launch vigorous movements in support of their demand.
The ABSU president, Dipen Boro, emphasised the urgency of removing prof Singh from his current position and suspending him immediately. He expressed concern over a person accused of criminal charges holding such a prestigious position and called for prompt action to prevent further corrupt practices.
In response to the protests and demands for suspension, the university’s office chamber of Prof Singh was locked by ABSU on July 20.
The student union threatened to launch vigorous movements in support of their demands if the government did not take action within a week. (With inputs from PTI)
