Biplab Giri, the registrar in additional charge of Gour Banga University, Malda, was “relieved” of his responsibilities on Saturday amid murmurs that the varsity was going slow on his removal despite a recommendation from a state committee.

A university source said: “Biplab Giri was relieved of his responsibilities on Saturday and the inspector of colleges Apurba Chakraborty has been asked to assume charge till a new registrar is appointed.”

Giri, a faculty member of the physiology department of the varsity, became registrar in December 2018 but allegations of his highhandedness and failure to stick to varsity rules soon started surfacing.

Following many such complaints, the state higher education department formed a threemember inquiry committee headed by Debkumar Mukherjee, the vicechancellor of Panchanan Barma University, Cooch Behar. The committee that started its probe in December 2020, handed its report to the state government in two weeks, recommending Giri's removal, sources in the higher education department said.

A senior varsity teacher alleged that some officials were delaying in complying with the higher education department’s directive as they possibly wanted the registrar to continue in office. But after the state government recently appointed Shanti Chhetri as Gour Banga University vicechancellor, the new VC decided to remove the registrar. Giri, however, will continue teaching in his department.