SHILLONG, MAY 23: The Chandra Mohan Jha Foundation – a trustee of the CMJ University-requested the Meghalaya government to step in and put a stop to the ‘witch-hunt’ against its official by the CID even as it asserted that the University chancellor CM Jha is not absconding but will make himself available at an appropriate time.
After the Meghalaya governor RS Mooshahary- who is the University Visitor- secretariat filed an FIR against the CMJ University for issuing what it termed as fake degrees certificates to its students, the CID has closed down the institute and arrest warrant against Jha had been issued even as some of its officials like registrar and deputy registrar have been arrested.
The foundation legal adviser SP Sharma told media conference on Thursday, “It cannot be said that the chancellor (CM Jha) is absconding as he is in his hometown in Bihar to attend to his ailing father who is in the ICU.” He said Jha will come as soon as his father gets better.
Speaking about the anticipatory bail petition filed by Jha and other officials which were rejected by the court, Sharma said ,” Everybody has the right to approach for bail if they are implicated in any criminal case but the decision to this will be decide by the investigating agency and the court.”
Sharma said that the foundation has written an open letter to the chief minister appealing him to step in and stop the witch-hunt by the police against the educationists who are being treated as common criminals are stopped”
The open letter to the chief minister expressed disappointment on the arrest of the university’s key officials and treating a revered place (CMJ University campus) of higher learning as a crime scene by the CID and the police department of the state.
The letter also requested the chief minister to intervene so that normalcy in the CMJ University is restored in the interest of the students. It called the action of the Governor in “friendless to the students.”
Sharma said that as per section 13 of the University Act, the Visitor (Governor) act as a mentor, guide and friend of a university who through his well timed advice, opinion and recommendation help the functioning of the university.
But Sharma said the Governor –Visitor- had neither the time nor the inclination to either issue any direction, letters nor had sought any information from the university for the last four years since the university’s inception.
Sharma termed the action of the Governor which led to the Univesity closure as pre-meditated and prejudiced and not in the interest of the University that led to complete obstruction in its functioning.
Besides point to several anomalies in the university, the Governor’s order that was issued to the CMJ University had directed the University to withdraw all the degrees awarded by it so far, submit a fresh proposal for the appointment of the Chancellor and also its annual report.
Pointing to the allegation against the CMJ Univerrsity Ph.D programmes, Sharma claimed, “All UGC norms were followed for admission to the Ph.D programs and due process is being followed through which the Ph.D degrees will be awarded.” He said the University is not surreptitiously enrolling Ph.D students but has provided the whole report on its programs and admissions to UGC and has taken the state government in full confidence on this issue.
Sharma said, “We have not receive any objection from UGC for our Ph.D programs so far.”He claimed over 300 guides are empanelled with CMJ university.
Sharma also said the University is willing to co-operate with the enquiries being made by the State Regulatory Body for Higher Education which has been established for the purpose of regulating universities.
Sharma promised, “After enquiry if there are any irregularities in the functioning of the University, we assure that we will comply with all directions as provided by the State Regulatory Body.”
Established in 2009, the CMJ University has allegedly awarded a record number of 434 PhD degrees in the past one year apart from registering 490 more PhD scholars during the same year.-
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