After waiting for around almost four months, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik has accepted the resignation of Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU) vice-chancellor (VC) R K Khandal and appointed Prof Onkar Singh in his place. Raj Bhawan sources said here on Thursday that the UPTU VC’s resignation had been accepted which was tendered in January. Prof Onkar Singh, presently VC of Madan Mohan Malaviya Technical University, Gorakhpur will take the place of Khandal for six months or till the new VC is appointed. The Governor has also directed to constitute a search committee to select the new VC.

“Directives have been issued to start selection process. As it will take some time Singh has been asked to take charge as UPTU VC for six months,” the source said. Khandal’s resignation came on January 22, after the state government, which was unhappy with his style of functioning, sought a seven-point status report from the UPTU registrar on various complaints filed against the vice-chancellor.

The complaints against him include anomalies in appointments of faculty members for administrative posts. Some of these appointments were for posts which don’t exist, a reason which upset the government. This included appointment of Khandal’s close aide BN Mishra as controller of examination. The VC did not seek approval either from the government or the chancellor. Khandal had also appointed JP Saini, former director, MMM Engineering College, Gorakhpur, as the coordinator for state entrance examination-2015. According to the letter, the government was also unhappy with Khandal’s frequent visits abroad, as many of them were made without permission from the chancellor. The most serious issue was that of Khandal’s eligibility for holding the VC’s post. However, the outgoing VC said he had resigned on personal ground.