States »NortPosted at: May 23 2021 7:08PM

UP Minister's brother appointment creates controversy

Lucknow, May 23 (UNI) The selection of Arun Dwivedi, brother of Uttar Pradesh's Basic Education Minister Satish Chandra Dwivedi, as a Professor in Psychology, Sidharth University, under the reservation quota for EWS for upper caste, has created controversy as the Opposition allege that Minister has used his good office to give job to his brother.
The case is of Siddharth University Kapilavastu. There are two posts of Assistant Professor for the subject of Psychology. Among these, Dr Harendra Sharma has been appointed under the OBC and Dr Arun Kumar Dwivedi under the EWS (Economically Weaker General Candidate) category.
Dr Kumar was given an appointment letter by the Registrar of Siddharth University on Friday.
Vice-Chancellor Surendra Dubey's term was coming to an end on May 21, but the government extended his term a day earlier on May 20 until the appointment of the regular vice-chancellor. Now questions are being raised whether the term of the vice-chancellor was extended just because the brother of the minister was to be appointed.
Siddharth University vice-chancellor Dr Surendra Dubey said Dr Dwivedi is given a job based on his application. “In that his father is mentioned, there is no mention of a brother. I never knew his brother is minister in UP cabinet and neither the minister has ever recommended directly or indirectly about his brother.
When contacted, the Basic Education Minister said his brother has got the job on his merit. “I have never recommended his appointment. He is an individual and his testimonies are reflection of his individuality. If anyone has any doubt he can go and check records,” he said defending his brother’s appointment on EWS quota.
It is said that Dr Kumar used to teach in Banasthali Vidyapeeth, Rajasthan, when Satish Dwivedi became a minister, he left the job and came to UP. Not only this, Dr Kumar's wife is an assistant professor in Bihar and they also have a house and land, though all the brothers still live in a joint family.
The EWS certificate is obtained only when the annual income of an individual is less than 8 lakh rupees and the applicant should have less than 5 acres of land and his house should be less than 1000 square feet. If one lives in an urban area, one should have a residential plot of less than 100 square yards.
Samajwadi party and Congress have demanded a probe and resignation of the minister.
UNI MB