Centre urged not to extend Pondicherry University VC Gurmeet Singh's tenure

PUDUCHERRY: The Human Rights and Consumer Protection Society has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and President of India's secretary Rajesh Verma not to extend the tenure of Pondicherry University vice-chancellor Gurmeet Singh beyond the sixth year as there is no proviso in the Act and Statues of the university.

The tenure of Singh, who was given a period of one-year extension after the completion of a five-year term as vice-chancellor, will expire on November 23. Singh’s five-year tenure expired on November 23 last year, and he was given an extension for one year.

In a memorandum addressed to the trio, society general secretary R Muruganantham said the Acts and statutes do not allow Singh to function even as in-charge vice- chancellor beyond the extended tenure of one year after his regular tenure of five years.

But in breach of the statutory provisions, if he is allowed to continue beyond November 23 this year, it will be an act of miscarriage of justice and naked violation of statutory provisions which will end up with the intervention of the judiciary and the result will be embarrassing to the Union education ministry and Union government, he said.

Muruganantham pleaded with them to constitute a high-level inquiry to probe into the alleged massive corruption during the past six years at the university in the interest of the public and justice.