HRD minister dismisses Pondy varsity VC after president's assent

PUDUCHERRY: The Human Resource Development ministry on Monday dismissed Pondicherry University Vice Chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy following approval by President Pranab Mukherjee. An order said the President invoked Section 16 of General Clauses Act to order the dismissal of the Vice Chancellor.

The current central university laws do not have any provision for removing the institution head. Section 16 empowers the appointing authority - under any central Act or regulation - to "suspend or dismiss any person appointed" The President had earlier approved dismissal of Chandra Krishnamurthy, the second instance of sacking of VC of a Central University. Prior to this, Visva Bharati Vice Chancellor Sushanta Dattagupta was dismissed in the same manner.

The tenure of Chandra Krishnamurthy, ever since she took charge as VC in 2012, was filled with controversies and allegations. Punishment of two ragging victims in the university-in which the Madras high court fined the university later, transfer of officials and staff who questioned irregularities happening inside the university were among them. Later, serious allegations of academic fraud and plagiarism were levelled against  Krishnamurthy which led to a series of protests by students, teachers and non-teaching staff.

In August 2015, she agreed to go on leave, on a suggestion of HRD ministry as the University Grants Commission (UGC) found her guilty of serious academic frauds, including holding a fake D.Litt degree.