The ongoing tussle between Mahatma Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor A.V. George and a section of the Syndicate members has taken an ugly turn with the Vice-Chancellor coming in the open accusing the “A” faction in the Congress of waging a war against him on the basis of trumped-up charges.
Speaking to The Hindu on Monday, the Vice-Chancellor said there had been a group working against him even before he assumed office. “There was an attempt to sabotage my appointment with the help of senior government officials in the Higher Education department,” he said and alleged that there was an attempt to tamper with his bio-data.
Mani's stance
“It was the strong stance taken by Finance Minister K.M. Mani which finally became decisive,” he said. The witch hunt against him was evident from the fact that already four cases were filed against him by Congress party members in the Kerala High Court.
Mr George said while the university community and the majority of the Syndicate members supported him. It was four Congress-leaning Syndicate members along with the Registrar who is under suspension, who were behind the present controversies, he said.
Referring to the show case notice against him by the Chancellor, Mr George said it was the same Syndicate members who had supported the introduction of off-campus centres who later complained against him. “When Mr. K.M. Abraham, additional chief secretary, Higher Education Department, held the charge of the Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University, the university had sanctioned 80 off-campus centres and necessary posts were created,” Mr. George said.
“However, when the MG University sanctioned new off campus centres and new posts were created, it has become a case of contention,” he said. Mr. George said the present accusations against him were aimed at inviting political and government intervention in the affairs of the university which would directly affect its autonomy.
Redesignation
“MG University conducts 9,700 examinations a year. However, for the past many months it has been functioning without either a registrar or a controller of examinations. When the Vice-Chancellor redesignated two Joint Registrars as additional Registrars, without incurring any financial burden on the university, it has been questioned,” Mr George said.
“This is a very clear evidence of the concerted effort on the part of these people to invite government intervention in the affairs of the university,” he said.
Worthless issues
Mr George said he was pained at the fact that much of the time was wasted in fighting worthless issues. “Neither me nor the Syndicate members will lose any thing. Ultimately it will be the students and the institution who will be the losers,” he said.
