Dibrugarh University vice-chancellor Professor Ranjit Tamuli has been suspended by Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi on the charges of “grave” financial irregularities and “misuse” of public funds, according to a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan on Thursday.
Mukhi, also the chancellor of the university set up in 1965 in Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district, ordered the suspension acting on the “report” of the fact-finding committee and on “consideration” of facts and materials available on record and placed before him, finding “prima facie a case of grave misconduct, abuse of power and lack of commitment on the part of Tamuli”.
Tamuli is the third varsity official to be suspended since last week. The other two officials — registrar Hari Chandra Mahanta and deputy registrar (finance & accounts) Diganta Borah — were suspended for their alleged involvement in financial irregularities.
Mukhi also decided to constitute a high-level inquiry committee to look into details of the functioning of the Dibrugarh University for the past five years.
Dibrugarh University Teachers’ Association, Dibrugarh University Officers’ Association, Dibrugarh University Employees’ Association and Lahowal MLA had submitted petitions to Mukhi on allegations of gross financial anomalies and misappropriation of funds against Tamuli.
They had also staged protests against these irregularities.
Not satisfied with Tamuli’s explanation on the charges, Mukhi, in order to ascertain veracity of the allegations constituted a fact-finding committee under the chairmanship of commissioner and secretary, higher education department, Preetom Saikia, and Upper Assam division commissioner Moloy Bora, who were assisted by experts from the Directorate of Forensic Science, Kahilipara.
“The decision for immediate suspension has been taken to ensure that witnesses are not influenced/coerced in any way and material records of the University are not tampered with in any manner whatsoever and for ensuring a fair enquiry,” the statement said.
The governor has handed over the charge of the vice-chancellor to Professor R.N.S. Yadav, the seniormost professor of the varsity.
