Editorial
Irregularities at Jagannath University
A probe called for
Two news items, recently carried in a leading Bangla daily, have brought to light massive financial, academic and administrative irregularities at Jagannath University. The vice chancellor himself, along with others, has allegedly been involved with some financial irregularities, including buying two expensive cars and misusing a large amount of money from the university funds. The government allocation of Taka 100 crore for the construction of a female dormitory and an academic building is being spent on teachers' quarters. Although the VC denied the allegations, the reports demonstrated how University Grants Commission (UGC)'s rules have been violated.
At a time when the UGC is already fraught with inadequate budgetary allocation, wrongful use of such hefty amounts that should have gone into the students' welfare is unacceptable, to say the least. The UGC has clear-cut regulations, and whenever any institution is found to have violated them the onus falls on the education ministry to take immediate action.
There have also been allegedly massive irregularities in the recruitment of teachers and staff. 23 teachers from inside the university were promoted, with some becoming professor in the span of merely four years or so. As we know it, it takes one several years of diligence and research including a PhD degree to become a professor. However, promoting someone to professorship without verifying his credentials is to make a mockery of the system. What worries us more is that all these promotions and recruitments were suspected to have been given on political grounds.
We think the UGC, in consultation with the education ministry, should immediately initiate a full scale investigation into the reported financial and academic irregularities and bring all those responsible to account.
Malpractices have a way of being replicated unless stemmed where there are specific instances to have a corrective and preventive impact with implications for other educational institutions.
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