AU starts inquiry even though chairperson is yet to accept the responsibility

ALLAHABAD: The inquiry committee constituted by the authorities of Allahabad University to probe the issue of alleged WhatsApp chat and conversation with a Delhi based woman and the VC, Prof Ratal Lal Hangloo commenced its working on the campus, from Monday.

Interestingly, the varsity authorities went ahead with the process of collecting documents for or against the issue despite the fact that the chairperson of the said inquiry committee has yet not accepted the request of the varsity authorities to conduct the inquiry.

AU authorities had recently constituted a high level inquiry committee to probe the issue of alleged Whatsapp chat and audio recording between the VC and the Delhi based women. The committee would be headed by Justice Arun Tandon (retired) of Allahabad High Court.

Prof Hangloo has decided to remain on leave and thus would not attend his office till the completion of the inquiry committee. Varsity has appointed Divesh Goswami (assistant registrar) as the nodal officer of this committee. AU authorities had informed that whosoever wishes to submit any written document or any item related to the ongoing controversy, he or she can do the same by meeting Goswami at AU guest house from September 24 to 26, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

However, the student leaders, who were already questioning the integrity of the said committee on the issue of 'conflict of interest', raised another pertinent question on Monday. "Sitting of the officer of AU at guest house for collecting the documents is part of the inquiry committee but how can the inquiry committee start functioning without getting the consent of the chairman of the committee who has not yet accepted the request of the AU administration", said Rohit Mishra, national secretary of ABVP and former president of AU student union.

He added that HRD removes Prof Hangloo or suspend him and then constitute a committee.

Later in the evening the student leaders took out a procession from the women hostel campus which concluded at Shubash Crossing of civil lines. Hundreds of students, including girls, participated in the procession.

Meanwhile, AU PRO, Chitranjan Kumar presented a letter to the media claiming that large number of students have appealed to Justice (retd) Arun Tandon to accept the request of the varsity administration for chairing the committee. However, all the signatures in the said letter were from the students of BTech course of AU.