Naga Mothers frustrated at NU Mess

Dimapur, August 30 (MExN): The Naga Mothers’ Association has demanded immediate revocation of the suspension orders issued against two Nagaland University teachers and leaders of the Nagaland University Teacher’s Association (NUTA). The mothers’ have also demanded that the report of the Fact-Finding Committee, instituted by the Ministry of Human Resources Development be immediately submitted for further necessary action ‘against charges and counter-charges’.
A strong statement from the NMA today skinned Nagaland University for setting “examples of the lowest order” to the people of Nagaland. “In the process, the hopeful minds of thousands of students have been reduced to nothing including their parents, who dreamt dreams for their children” the NMA said. The mothers expressed frustration that the recent times in the state seem to be witnessing a phase where “everything seems to have collapsed”.
Reiterating serious concerns as expressed in the past, the NMA said that “the problems” have been aggravated.  The NMA tells the university’s authorities “not to further barter away the future of our children, as enough damage has already been done”. In this backdrop, the NMA demanded: “At the same time, NMA demands that, the suspension order issued against the two teachers and leaders of the Nagaland University Teacher’s Association (NUTA) be immediately revoked and the report of the Fact-Finding Committee, instituted by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), as instructed by the President of India, be immediately submitted for further necessary action against charges and counter-charges, which are bogging down the deliverance of justice”.

NUTA stirs NU authority’s dirt

Dimapur, August 30 (MExN): The Nagaland University Teachers’ Association reiterates its demand for the unconditional revocation of the two “illegal suspension” orders served to the president and secretary general of the association’s CEC. The NUTA in turn, has demanded immediate resignation of vice chancellor, Prof. K. Kannan, Registrar Thejao Vihienuo and Controller of Examinations Tongpang Ao, based on the various charges of corruption, manipulation and violation of the Nagaland University Act and statutes. Towards this effect, a peaceful procession is scheduled for September 1, NUTA informed.
The peaceful procession to be taken out on Monday, will be not only be a demand for revocation of the illegal suspension orders, but for the resignation of all corrupt officials including the VC himself and a reaffirmation against corrupt practices in the university, NUTA said and invited all right-thinking citizens to join the procession to ‘cleanse the university and restore transparency and accountability in this highest seat of learning’.
A statement from the NUTA today mourned the fourteen years of Nagaland University reeling under corruption under ‘classified hands’, hindrance and thus  retarding the growth of the university. “Successive vice chancellors and officers have destroyed the university through corruption, manipulation, favoritism, nepotism and autocratic functioning, ignoring the university act and statutes” the NUTA lamented.
According to the association, Prof. Kannan continues to violate university statutes and ordinance with impunity, even after the visit of the Fact-Finding Committee. He has repeatedly violated the NU Statute 2, clause (6) which stipulates that “if the Pro-Vice Chancellor is not available the senior-most professor shall perform the duty of the vice chancellor” NUTA pointed out.
“The latest proposals submitted to the UGC for opening of new institutes, departments and centers were carried out without the mandatory approval of the Planning Board, Academic Council and Executive Council. This is in direct violation of the University Act & Statutes 13, 15 and 16” the NUTA said.
Cutting dirt on Kannan, the NUTA said the VC has illegally held the charge of Finance Officer for more than one and half year, violating financial “codal” procedures. He has failed to hold the mandatory annual University Court for more than two years; in spite of NUTA’s protest he has allowed officers under scanner to hold the post of DDO in the university, NUTA said.

NUTA’s take on VC, Registrar and CoE’s dirt
The teachers today listed out a number of charges alleging the VC of mismanaging the university in myriad ways. In case of the Engineering and Management Institute in Dimapur, NUTA said, an amount of Rupees one crore, fifty nine lakhs, forty five thousand, three hundred and sixty was spent on equipments and other materials without floating tenders and violating financial codal procedures.
“Only after NUTA questioned their motives did the VC and Registrar float the tenders; however, this was only after the materials were procured. His anti-Naga policy is evident in the distribution of seats whereby he has given only 60 seats out of 300 seats to Nagaland and kept 51% for all India” the teachers stated.
Further, in the last interviews held in Nagaland University for teaching posts, the VC did not recruit a single eligible candidate from NU, including a Gold medalist. “He has also destroyed the career of long serving teachers on contract by failing to regularize their service” NUTA lamented. “The irregularities noted in the appointment of some teachers and Registrar, as mentioned in the Inspection Report of the AG/CAG, has still not been rectified by the VC. The report clearly records the various irregularities and violations on selection of the teachers and Registrar of the University” NUTA informed.
On Registrar Thejao Vihienuo, the NUTA pointed to his being ineligible for the post of registrar, as clearly pointed out in the report of the AG/CAG. “The report states that selection of the said candidate by misinterpreting the provision of the ordinance was irregular. Further, the recommendation of the Screening Committee was ratified by the Selection Committee, which is highly irregular. The university authority had been directed to explain the circumstances under which Mr. Thejao Vihienuo was appointed as Registrar when he did not fulfill the requirement of minimum 8 years of experience as Reader as per UGC norms. However, no reply was put forward till date” the NUTA said. Earlier, even in the recruitment of Thejao Vihienuo to the post of Controller of Examinations, he did not fulfill the eligibility criteria, NUTA said. “However the Screening and Selection Committees under the Vice Chancellor selected him by willfully condoning the eligibility criteria thereby violating the University Ordinance. The AG/CAG Report also clearly states that there is misappropriation in records in support of Rs. 21.71 Lakh for printing of confidential papers during his term as COE” the NUTA disclosed.
The NUTA also said that the Registrar and his wife, who is an Assistant Registrar, have violated regulations by sitting as chairman and member in all recruitment of non-teaching staff for many years. “This has resulted in favoritism and extensive manipulations in appointments” NUTA lamented.
On the appointment of the present Controller of Examination, Tongpang Ao, former Deputy Registrar, the NUTA said it was in violation of the eligibility criteria of years of service and eligibility norms, for both the two posts of DR and COE for which he was recruited successively. The NUTA said he has serious charges of misappropriation of funds against him as per the FFC report of Peoples’ College, Mokokchung and misappropriation of Rs. 22 lakhs from the Prime Minister’s Package during his posting as OSD, Nagaland University, Lumami. “It is highly questionable that Prof. Kannan has encouraged the selection of such an unqualified person for the most sensitive post of Controller of Examination” the teachers added.