The Vice Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU), Arvind Agarwal, has submitted his resignation to the HRD Ministry amid allegations of false academic records in his application, The Indian Express reported.
Agarwal reportedly submitted his papers on 26 October and has requested to be relieved of his responsibilities by 15 November. The ministry is likely to forward his resignation to President Ram Nath Kovind, who is the “official visitor” of all central universities, on Wednesday, 31 October.
Agarwal has, however, denied quitting from the post, the report said.
Allegations Against Agarwal
Earlier this year, several MGCU teachers had registered a complaint with the government, alleging that Agarwal had “fudged” his academic qualifications on the basis of which he had been considered eligible for the position, the newspaper reported.
According to the complaint, Agarwal, who had claimed to have completed his PhD from a university in Germany, had actually received his degree from a university in Rajasthan. Another complaint that was registered with the ministry alleges that the V-C had also lied about graduating with a first class distinction at the undergraduate level.
What Happened Next?
The ministry had reportedly found the allegations against Agarwal to be true, and had directed the former to come up with a response. The Vice Chancellor then resigned from the post.
The sources in the government, however, did not confirm if the resignation had been forwarded to the President, the report added.
The Selection Process
The process to select MGCU’s first VC, was conducted by the incumbent government in February 2016, where a search-cum-selection committee headed by Harish Chandra Rathore, head of Central University of South Bihar, had suggested three eligible names for the purpose.
They had shortlisted the candidates down to three, based on the bio data which had been provided to them by the ministry.
Speaking to the newspaper, Rathore on Monday, 29 October, said: “Verification of academic credentials of applicants is not the remit of the selection panel. Moreover, the final selection from the panel of three names was done by the government.”
Agrawal had about two-and-a-half years left in his term.
The Next VC
Following Agarwal’s resignation, Anil Kumar Rai was reportedly appointed as the new pro-Vice Chancellor aka Deputy Vice Chancellor, this week, according to The Indian Express.
Speaking about Rai’s appointment, MGCU Teachers’ Association president Pramod Meena told the newspaper that the selection was done in a “hush hush manner” and that the Council had only been informed about it via email on Monday, 29 October, evening.
However, he said that Rai’s appointment, reportedly made on Agarwal’s recommendation, had not been ratified by the university Executive Council.
(With inputs from The Indian Express)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)