In view of the pending inquires against the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU), PK Garg the Governor of Uttarakhand Krishan Kant Paul has divested him of all his powers. The Governor also directed the VC of Sridev Suman Uttarakhand University, US Rawat to take additional charge of the VC of the UTU. Acting swiftly, Dr US Rawat assumed charge of the university on Tuesday afternoon.
Talking to The Pioneer shortly after joining new assignment, Rawat said that his priority is to ensure congenial atmosphere in the university. He said that every grievance would be listened and efforts would be made to address it within the framework of university. The new VC added that he will try to ensure a harmonious relationship between all the stakeholders of the university like officials, employees and students. Rawat said that the stress would be laid on research and innovation in the university.
The statements of the new VC assumes significance as the university established to give an impetus to technical education in the state has been in news for all the wrong reasons for quite some time.
Most recently an inquiry was ordered against the VC Garg when he applied for and later participated in interview for the post of director of one of the National Institute of Technologies (NIT) without taking required permission. Similarly last year the VC unilaterally relieved a deputy registrar for his parent department. The high court later gave its verdict in the favour of the deputy registrar. In another case the VC received flak when he appointed a person drawn on contract from Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Kalyan Nigam limited (UPNl) on the coveted post of Controller of examination. VC Garg also got embroiled in a controversy when the close relatives of some of the top functionaries of the university (including him) were unscrupulously appointed on very good positions in the University from UPNl.