V-C stalling probe, so send him on leave: Lokayukta tells CM

Lokayukta N K Mehrotra, who is probing a complaint of alleged irregularities in the appointment of teachers and procurement of books by Gautam Buddha University (GBU) in Greater Noida, has recommended that the university's Vice-Chancellor S R Lakha be sent on leave till the completion of the inquiry as he was creating obstacles.

Mehrotra has sent the recommendation to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the chancellor of GBU. He has also asked the Chief Minister to cancel the appointment of registrar Pramod Kumar Agarwal as he had been appointed by the government, not the university's Board of Management, which is authorised to do so.

The Lokayukta is conducting a probe into a complaint lodged by Muzaffarnagar resident Opin Kumar in May, alleging irregularities in appointment of teachers of the university and purchase of books of about Rs 2.32 crore by Dinesh Saxena, former registrar, and Shamsuddin Ansari, current assistant registrar.

Kumar alleged that most of the books bought by the university were dead stock of publishing companies and they were purchased because the sellers paid commission to the university administration. Kumar also alleged that many ineligible candidates were appointed teachers in the university.

The Lokayukta recommended that the Chief Minister appoint a committee to probe the allegations. The Chief Minister then appointed two educationists — R S Rajput, a former director of NCERT, and prof CB Sharma of the Indira Gandhi National Open University's distance learning programme — for conducting an inquiry.

Mehrotra said the two-member committee had submitted an interim report which he had forwarded to the Chief Minister. He said the committee members complained that the V-C and other administration officials were not cooperating in their inquiry into the purchase of books.

The Lokayukta also recommended that prof Mahavir Singh, Dean of School of Biotechnology, and K P Singh, Dean of School of Humanities and Social Sciences, be removed from all posts of administrative nature.

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