Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeswar has directed Prof Arun Kumar of Gorakhpur’s Deen Dayal Upadhyaya University and Prof A S Kukla of the Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar University in Agra to stop functioning as the Vice-Chancellors of their universities. Both the V-Cs had been under the scanner for their autocratic way of functioning as well as financial and academic irregularities.

The Governor, who is also the Chancellor and appointing authority of V-Cs of state universities, in his order said the Agra SSP had requested his permission to prosecute Prof Kukla in a criminal case. According to the order issued on August 11, the police had found Dr Kukla prima facie involved in the mysterious death of university employee Manoj in April 2005. Dr Kukla is currently out on bail in the case.

A case had also been also registered at the Hariparvat police station in Agra charging the V-C with irregularities in conducting examinations and evaluation of answersheets. Asking Prof Kukla to refrain from performing his duties as V-C, as a detailed departmental inquiry has been ordered against him, the Chancellor directed Prof Bhumitra Deo, former V-C of the Mahatma Phule Rohilkhand University of Bareilly, to take over till further orders.

In the case of Prof Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of the DDU University, several complaints were received regarding financial, administrative and academic irregularities. There were also serious complaints about irregularities during admissions in B.Ed. course.

Talking to mediapersons after assuming charge, Prof Deo said the varsity’s problems would be tackled on priority.

... contd.