India: Rajasthan university - RSS pracharaks on the varsity board have been seeking more control

V-C offers to quit over Raje govt’s ‘non-cooperation’

Written by Sweta Dutta | Jaipur | Posted: November 3, 2014 3:18 am

Rajasthan University Vice-Chancellor Dev Swarup Sunday met Governor Kalyan Singh and offered to resign, citing the state government’s ‘non-cooperation’ in running the varsity as the reason. A decision in this regard is yet to be taken and another meeting between the Governor and the V-C is slated for Monday morning.

Sources told The Indian Express that Swarup complained to the Governor, who is also the university’s Chancellor, that over the past seven months, none of the government nominees on the varsity board — all of whom are RSS pracharaks — have released the approved budget, thereby paralysing the university’s functioning.

Reportedly, Swarup added that he had to use his special veto powers to release funds for salaries and pensions. He is said to have told Singh that such ‘non-cooperation’ from the state government is leading to difficulties in running the university.

Sources further said that Swarup has sought non-interference from the RSS as one of the conditions of continuing in his post. The Governor, citing health reasons, fixed another meeting over the issue on Monday.

Highly placed sources in the university said the RSS pracharaks on the varsity board have been seeking more control over the institution’s working. The government nominees have, therefore, been throwing a spanner in the works so that Swarup can be replaced by an appointee of their choice, they added.

Government sources said Raje might be apprehensive of kicking up a storm over the Swarup’s possible departure. The V-C has been popular on the campus after he introduced a bevy of changes to improve the varsity’s academic environment.

Swarup, who was appointed to the post in July last year, has over 20 months of tenure left. He is known for his bold decisions and following his appointment, the varsity saw the appointment of 241 teachers after a gap of 32 years. Decks for the mass recruitment were cleared after the Swarup battled 87 court alleging irregularities in the process. He was appointed by the former Ashok Gehlot government.

Rumours are abuzz that other V-Cs appointed by the previous government are also under pressure from the Sangh to quit. Congress leaders in the state condemned the ‘saffronisation’ of universities and maintained that the party would rally in support of able academicians.

The education portfolio in Rajasthan is divided between two ministers backed by the RSS. While Kalicharan Saraf holds higher and technical education, CM Raje inducted RSS supporter Vasudev Devnani into her cabinet earlier this week and assigned him charge of primary and secondary education.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/v-c-offers-to-quit-over-raje-govts-non-cooperation/