Several Syndicate and Senate members of the Fakir Mohan University here levelled a volley of charges against the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university.
They alleged that VC Kumarbar Das had misused his power and position and resorted to a lot of financial and administrative irregularities. They threatened an agitation, if a free and fair probe into all his misdemeanours is not conducted.
They said, protesting the wrongdoings of Das, the members would hold a token strike on May 20 near the Fakir Mohan Circle and submit a memorandum to the Governor through the District Collector. If no action was taken after that, the agitation would be intensified, said former senate member of the university Bismay Mohanty at a Press meet on Saturday. It was attended by syndicate and senate members, including Dr Abhay Panda, Dr Harish Behera, Antaryami Pradhan, Nagendra Padhi, Malay Roy, Bismay Mohanty, Gitanjali Nanda, Yosodhara Das, Rabindra Pradhan, Khagendra Sahu, Basantalata Pattnaik, Umesh Barik and Trideb Nayak.
VC Das has not convened a meeting of senate and syndicate members for years and introduced new courses without approval of the Academic Council. Besides, around Rs5 crore received by the university under the 11 plan has been misutilised and a hefty amount was spent on account of the observation of the foundation day last year. While funds were diverted to heads other than what they were meant for, utilisation certificates were not submitted. Even as several posts were lying vacant, adhoc engagements were not regularised deliberately, they alleged, adding that the pass outs since 2008 had not got certificates due to apathy of the officials.
When asked, Das, however, rubbished the charges and said it was an attempt to malign him by vested interest. He added that the syndicate meetings were held as per rule.