The elite group of the district has expressed utter surprise over Sambalpur University Vice-Chancellor Sanjib Mittal presiding over a Syndicate meeting on April 23 as he is none other than the prime accused in the self-immolation case of Dinabandhu Mishra, a contractual employee.
“How could he preside over the meeting as a case under Section 306 (abetment to commit suicide) has been registered against him in Burla police station after Abhisek Mishra, the son of deceased lodged an FIR against him,” asked Durga Prasad Padhi and Sumanta Kumar Swain, two former Syndicate members of SU. “U/s 306 one is liable for imprisonment up to 10 years. Under such circumstances, how was he allowed to preside over the meeting,” they asked further. They further asked what stopped police from arresting him. These two members including many others further alleged that the meeting was totally manipulated. One member was under ventilator due to severe health condition but was shown to be present in the meeting virtually.
Besides, another was on board a flight that time. Hence the meeting is totally a forged one and we have written to Chancellor of universities and State Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal to annul the proceedings of the meeting, besides removing the VC from his post and giving order to police to arrest him immediately without any further delay as there is documentary evidence against him, said Padhi and Swain.
They have further requested the Chancellor to order for a judicial inquiry and dissolve the present syndicate whose members have grossly failed to act as per the provisions of the Act, and statutes of the syndicate and rather were indirectly acting to save a murder accused. “This is like an accused acting as a judge,” commented Heramba Chandra Dani, a senior member of the District Bar Association. “There are well-proved allegations against the VC.
Hence, he has no right to preside over the meeting,” said Dani. Former MLA Aswini Guru also expressed surprise over decision of the Syndicate on conditional ex gratia to the deceased’s family.