Indore: Raj Bhawan and state government are reportedly at loggerheads over name of new vice chancellor of Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya as the former does not find candidates recommended by the latter fit for the coveted post.
A day after technical glitches marred common entranced test conducted by DAVV, the state government on June 24 had clamped Section 52 of Madhya Pradesh University Act, 1973, which led to ouster of Dr Narendra Dhakad as vice chancellor.
Along with the file of Section 52, the government had also sent a panel of three members comprising SL Garg, Jagmohan Kailar, and BK Sharma. But Chancellor Anandiben Patel reportedly did not like the names, so she put the file in cold store.
She conveyed to the government that the names should be changed but the government reportedly told her that it wants one of the three persons to be appointed as VC.
As per information, government preferred Garg over other two persons as he is the only person on the panel who is from Indore. The Chancellor reportedly put her weight behind Ashutosh Mishra who is also a local resident and had been officiating vice chancellor of DAVV.
It was believed that if the government and Raj Bhawan failed to reach consensus on each other’s name, efforts should be made for a common agreement on one of the following names - Prof Ashok Sharma, KN Chaturvedi and Sangeeta Jain.
In the afternoon, a meeting between a group of government representatives and the Chancellor was held at Raj Bhawan but no consensus could be made on any of the names.
While the government representatives pushed the names on the panel, the Chancellor put the file on the back burner and left for an official tour to other cities.
She will return in two to three days. This means that appointment of VC is unlikely to take place in next two to three days.
Why this issue?
As per MP University Act, if the state government on receipt of a report or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the administration of the University cannot be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Act, it can clamp Section 52.
The Chancellor will then appoint vice chancellor in consultation with the government. The traditional practice has been that the government would recommend names of VC and the Chancellor will select one of them. But it’s just a practice but not any provision in the Act.
That means the Chancellor can appoint any person of her choice with or without consultation with government. It is because this, that the situation has become complex.
DAVV to seeks Chancellor’s guidance on CET
As new VC has not been appointed as yet, DAVV has decided to take advice on common entrance test.
Heads of teaching departments of DAVV on Wednesday observed that computer-based (online) test should be conducted for students who could not take CET on June 23 due to technical glitches.
In a meeting held on Wednesday, the department heads also observed that 16000 students had successfully taken online CET on June 23 whereas nearly 1100 missed the exam due to technical snag.
They noted that computer-based exam should be conducted for left out students and then results of CET be declared.
The university stated that it would send recommendations of HoDs to the Chancellor’s seeking her guidance. The varsity will act as per the advice of the Chancellor until new VC comes.
