UP Govt, Governor wrangle over VCs to universities

LUCKNOW, Jan 4: The fight between the Uttar Pradesh government and Governor Romesh Bhandari over the appointment of Vice Chancellors (VC) to...

LUCKNOW, Jan 4: The fight between the Uttar Pradesh government and Governor Romesh Bhandari over the appointment of Vice Chancellors (VC) to State Universities, has taken political hues and seems to have nothing whatsoever to do with academics.

Neither Bhandari nor Higher Education Minister Narendra Kumar Singh Gaur, appear interested in improving the academic standard of universities. While Gaur, who is also a physics teacher at Allahabad University, has been trying to get some of his colleagues appointed as VCs, Bhandari is striving to oblige his political mentors by inducting Congress leaders to the executive council of various universities.

Bhandari has during past few months nominated small-time Congress leaders like Shekhar Bahuguna (in Rohilkhand University’s executive council), Sunit Vyas (Allahabad University), Kripa Shankar Singh (Congress MLC at Mumbai nominated in Purvanchal University) and Vijay Kumar Khera of New Delhi in Bundelkhand University.

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Raj Bhawan sources however, accuse Gaur of attempting to fill up the posts with his friends and colleagues who essentially share his ideology. The government’s move to amend the UP Universities Act, which will take away the Chancellor’s power to appoint VCs, has been prompted by Gaur’s wish to appoint the officiating VC of Allahabad University, B D Gupta as a regular one, they claim. Gupta, incidentally, was Gaur’s classmate at the Allahabad University and was appointed officiating VC six months ago on Gaur’s request. His tenure ends on January 8 this year and Gaur has been trying to get him either an extension or a regular appointment, Raj Bhawan sources claimed.

Asked whether the government’s move to amend the Act was only aimed at helping Gupta, Gaur shot back, "What’s wrong with B D Gupta. He has an excellent academic background. His being my friend should not be taken as a disqualification".

Raj Bhawan sources claim that Gaur has been pushing names of only those connected to his Sangh Parivar. Gaur is learnt to have campaigned for the appointment of one Radhey Mohan Mishra of Gorakhpur, known for his proximity to a minister in the Kalyan Singh cabinet, for inclusion on the prospective VCs’ panel of Allahabad University.

Regarding Gaur’s allegations that Bhandari was making "political appointments" to the University executive councils, Raj Bhawan sources claimed most of those appointed were persons of academic excellence. The sources said, "Making a political appointment in an 18-member executive council won’t have much impact, but political appointment of a VC may make or mar a University".