While Tezpur University has been in tumult with protests by staff and students against its Vice-Chancellor, the institute’s Finance Officer, who has also been a subject of the protestors’ ire, took charge as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Vice-Chancellor of another central institute, Sikkim University, this month.
The official, Braja Bandhu Mishra, who had been holding the Finance Officer’s post through an extension after his superannuation in May, has denied any wrongdoing on his end and said that he decided to ask to be relieved of his position in Tezpur University because of the adversarial climate there, and had applied to positions in multiple universities after serving his notice on October 30.
The ongoing protests at Tezpur University began in late September. On October 19, Sikkim University issued an advertisement for a one-year contractual position of OSD to the V-C, inviting applications from Level 14 retired officers from Central Autonomous Institutes. The Indian Express learnt that nine applications were received for this, of which four were called for interview on November 11 and that the selection committee picked Mishra.
Sikkim University Vice-Chancellor Santanu Kumar Swain said there was an “urgent requirement” for the position in the university.
“I have been in charge here for three months, and many key posts like registrar, finance officer and internal audit officer have been vacant. I have been finding it very difficult since I don’t have much specialised knowledge of finance. So we conducted this appointment process, which also included an external selection committee member. He was a candidate with ample experience in different central universities. Protests are going on in another university, but we have hired according to our need,” he said.
Tezpur University Registrar-in-charge Chandan Goswami said that Mishra relinquished his charge there on November 30.
Protesters at Tezpur University have accused Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh of financial irregularities and prolonged absences from the university, leading to “administrative stagnation”, disrepair of campus infrastructure, and disruption of academic processes. Among the grievances the Tezpur University Teachers’ Association raised in a memorandum to the Ministry of Education last month was the extension of Mishra’s tenure as Finance Officer. The fact-finding committees constituted by the Governor and the Ministry to look into the campus turmoil had recorded his statement.
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Mishra said that he was “upset” after protesters raised “Go back” slogans against him, and decided to ask to be relieved of his position.
“I did not ask for the extension; it was given to me on the last day of my service. I have given my written statements to both the fact-finding committees. There, I have highlighted the main reason that a section of staff object to me, which is that I have raised objections to several irregular bills submitted by different departments over the years. I have not done any irregularities in the university in more than five years of working there,” he said.
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