Ujjain: Uncertainty looms large over the appointment of Vikram University (VU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) as reports suggest that Governor-cum-Chancellor Anandiben Patel has kept pending the approval of panel sent by the higher education department (State government). In the wake of imposition of emergency provisions under Section 52, of the MP University Act, 1973- the budget of VU for the year 2019-2020 is not yet presented and all of its statutory bodies are under suspension- the varsity affairs are affected.
Situation started becoming bad after VC Sheel Sindhu Pandey citing personal reasons tendered his resignation some 35 days ago. It is learnt that the government had decided to impose Section 52 on VU following various financial and administrative irregularities committed during Pandey’s tenure, but he somehow managed the things and before the government could terminate him he resigned from the VC post and immediately returned to his parent Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur.
At that time Governor appointed one of the senior most professors Bal Krishna Sharma as VC in-charge. Meanwhile, the government imposed Section 52 on VU and started a process to appoint the VC. Sources claimed that a list comprising three names one each from Ujjain, Indore and Jabalpur were sent to the Raj Bhavan. On the contrary, the Raj Bhavan had sent a list comprising four names for the VU’s VC post, but the higher education department challenged this move on the pretext that as per the provisions vested under Section 52 the Governor will have to appoint the VC on the consultation of government.
Not just this on Tuesday speculations were rife that the Governor has appointed BS Makkad (Government Jhabua College principal) as VU’s VC. Governor’s secretary DD Agrawal, when contacted by Free Press, pleaded ignorance about the appointment of VU’s VC and said that the issue is pending between the Governor and State government. He declined to indicate as to when VU will get its new VC. Despite repeated efforts, Higher Education Minister Jitu Patwari was not available for comment as he was busy in Congress party meeting away at New Delhi on late Tuesday in view of Lok Sabha elections.