BHOPAL: Former chief minister Digvijaya Singh has written a letter to CM Kamal Nath demanding criminal action against former VC and chairman of general council of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Mass Communication (MCU) for their role in irregularities since 2004.
Singh has demanded action against former VC and chairman of general council besides members of the council- no matter how influential these people are. Most of the controversy surrounds around former VC BK Kuthiala. Chief Minister remains chairman of the general council of the university. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, being the chief minister was the council head.
Singh has written that the irregularities committed since 2004 are very serious in nature bearing financial implications besides violation of rules and Acts. Therefore the inquiry should be done by the Lokayukta and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) besides conducting a departmental inquiry and cases be registered against the officials responsible.
Pointing out at administrative irregularities Singh wrote that provisions of University Grants Commission, University Act, recruitment rules, reservation rules etc were thrown to winds. Gross violations of rules were done in study centres opened at Noida, Gwalior, Datia, Amarkantak, Rewa and Khandwa.
The study centres were opened at these places on land bought at exorbitant rates to please ministers. Moreover, relatives of ministers were given jobs in the university by the then VC- without following any process or rules. Most of the recruitments and promotion during his time were done without following rules.
Digvijaya has also raised question over journalism university not conducting audit. He has written that all universities conduct audit through local fund audit department but this university never got it done.
Singh has expressed surprise over the fact that the university was established with an objective of creating a centre for Hindi journalists but at present more than 90% of the students are studying computer courses.