The High Court of Manipur appointed former Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh as the administrator of Manipur University to discharge the functions of the Vice Chancellor under the Manipur University Act 2005 to bring normalcy in the University, informed legal sources.
A division bench of the High Court passed an order in this regard on Thursday.
During the period and as long as the administrator functions, the appointments of K Yugindro as Pro Vice Chancellor and appointment of W Vishwanath to look after the office of Vice Chancellor shall remain suspended, the sources said.
Similarly, the appointments of M Shyamkesho and Sh Dorendrajit as Registrar in-charges shall also remain suspended.
Jarnail Singh, who had also served a joint secretary to the Prime Minister, is fully authorised to choose and appoint any competent persons as Registrar in-charge of the university and he will be liberty to appoint any other person(s), the sources said.
The HC-appointed administrator has also been fully empowered to pass any such order(s) and or revoke any such order(s) for bringing the volatile situation by engaging in constant dialogue and interactions with all the stakeholders, so long it is not contrary to the any order of the court, it said adding that he (administrator) may also seek the assistance of the state and union government in this regard.
On the other hand, any person, who may interfere or cause obstruction to the functioning of the administrator may be liable to be punished accordingly under the Contempt of Courts Act 1971.
On October 10 afternoon, the police conducted verification of the students inside the university campus at Canchipur near Imphal after taking permission when the agitating students tried to storm the Administrative block of the University demanding immediate unconditional release of the arrested teachers, students and staffs of the varsity.
However, the police prevented them from entering the A block and detained around a dozen students for further verification, it said.
Manipur University has been embroiled in fresh turmoil after the police raid on the boys’ hostels in the intervening night of September 20 and 21 following a complaint. Around seven students, six teachers and some staffs of the University were also arrested and sent to judicial custody.