Ujjain: As present Vikram University (VU) vice-chancellor (VC) Sheel Sindhu Pandey on late Thursday tendered his resignation citing personal reasons, the acting VC Dr Balkrishna Sharma assumed the office on Friday. On this occasion employees of the varsity welcomed him with fire crackers and drumbeats.
Dr Sharma was posted earlier as the director of Scindia Oriental and Research Institute. On Thursday night VC Prof Pandey resigned from his post voluntarily. His four-year tenure was to complete in May and before it VU’s convocation ceremony was to be organised in March.
Till next arrangements, Prof BK Sharma has been made the acting VC as process of appointing new VC may take another six months. Meanwhile, talking to employees soon after joining the office Sharma told that organising examinations and declaration of the results on time are his principal priorities; preparations of convocation ceremony will also remain in his top priorities. Registrar DK Bagga, dean, students welfare Rakesh Dhandh, proctor SK Sharma, confidential section coordinator BK Mehta and others presented him bouquets.
Allegations galore against Pandey
According to sources Prof Pandey is facing serious corruption charges pertaining to purchase of books for the varsity and he was also facing serious allegations for making appointments of 36 persons in a single day at RD Gardi Medical College. A petition was also filed in high court by Bharatiya Yuva Sangh for financial irregularities in VU during his tenure.
These are the prime reasons as to why Prof Pandey resigned from his post, sources claimed. Pandey, who never maintained good relationship with most of the influential BJP leaders, failed to make rapport with the Congress leaders following which pressure was being mounted to clamp emergency provisions under Section 52 of MP University Act and axe was ought to fall on him. Understanding the scenario, Pandey met the Governor Anandiben Patel at Raj Bhavan, Bhopal on Thursday and put his papers.
Celebrations, ‘pious cleansing’
Some Class-III and IV employees brought fire fighters to cleanse the varsity headquarters at Madhav Bhavan. Likewise, pro-Congress students leaders sprinkled drops of pious water on the VC chair. They also shouted slogans claiming it as their victory that Prof Pandey had to vacate his chair.
