Pondicherry university Vice Chancellor asked to go on leave by HRD Ministry

Puducherry: The first woman Vice Chancellor of Pondicherry University, Chandra Krishnamoorthy, has been asked to go on leave by the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry, after students launched a protest demanding her removal for causing administrative chaos.

The chief secretary of Puducherry government, Manoj Parida told PTI yesterday that the ministry has directed Ms Krishnamoorthy to go on leave till the inquiry into allegations made against her is not completed.

Students have accused the Vice Chancellor of violating human rights, high handedness and administrative chaos, and have been on strike since June 27 demanding her removal.

In order to resolve the issue, the ministry had sent a two-member team, Joint Secretary to the University Grants Commission, K P Singh and Director of Higher Education, Amit Shukla, to meet with students, officials, staff and other stakeholders of the University on August 6 and 7.

The team also held talks with Ms Krishnamoorthy, and the Registrar in-charge, S Panneerselvam.

This is the first time in the history of the 31-year-old University that a Vice-Chancellor has been asked to go on leave.