Coimbatore Anna varsity V-C under cloud
12 Jul, 2009 0135hrs IST TNN[ Jayaraj Sivan ]
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu governor Surjit Singh Barnala has ordered the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to conduct an inquiry against the vice-chancellor of the Anna University (Coimbatore), R Radhakrishnan, for allegedly amassing wealth running into several crores of rupees by misusing his authority.
Radhakrishnan is the first vice-chancellor in Tamil Nadu to come under the DVAC scanner while in office.
Action was initiated against Radhakrishnan on Friday, the same day the Supreme Court censured Tamil Nadu government officials for colluding with private professional colleges to allow managements to charge hefty capitation fee from students.
Barnala, who received a complaint from advocate S Sivapandi, forwarded it to the DVAC director, asking him “to conduct a discreet and secret preliminary inquiry so as to proceed further in accordance with law against Dr R Radhakrishnan”.
When contacted, Radhakrishnan told TOI, “I am not aware of the governor ordering an inquiry. I came to know about it only from you. I have no comments.”
Questioned further, Radhakrishnan said, “I received a copy of this petition some time ago. There is no truth in it. All the allegations levelled against me are false. My hands are clean.”
A highly placed source in the government confirmed the receipt of the communication from the governor’s office. The official said, “We have information that the DVAC has received a communication from the governor’s secretary, Hans Raj Verma, stating that the governor wants a preliminary inquiry to be conducted against Radhakrishnan. But since Radhakrishnan holds a very high position, the DVAC will have to wait for the government’s nod. The government is yet to decide.”
But legal experts said it was wrong interpretation of law. A senior jurist said, “The governor is the visitor (chancellor) of the university and visitorial powers include inquiring into the conduct of any authority of the university, including the vice-chancellor.’’
12 Jul, 2009 0135hrs IST TNN[ Jayaraj Sivan ]
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu governor Surjit Singh Barnala has ordered the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to conduct an inquiry against the vice-chancellor of the Anna University (Coimbatore), R Radhakrishnan, for allegedly amassing wealth running into several crores of rupees by misusing his authority.
Radhakrishnan is the first vice-chancellor in Tamil Nadu to come under the DVAC scanner while in office.
Action was initiated against Radhakrishnan on Friday, the same day the Supreme Court censured Tamil Nadu government officials for colluding with private professional colleges to allow managements to charge hefty capitation fee from students.
Barnala, who received a complaint from advocate S Sivapandi, forwarded it to the DVAC director, asking him “to conduct a discreet and secret preliminary inquiry so as to proceed further in accordance with law against Dr R Radhakrishnan”.
When contacted, Radhakrishnan told TOI, “I am not aware of the governor ordering an inquiry. I came to know about it only from you. I have no comments.”
Questioned further, Radhakrishnan said, “I received a copy of this petition some time ago. There is no truth in it. All the allegations levelled against me are false. My hands are clean.”
A highly placed source in the government confirmed the receipt of the communication from the governor’s office. The official said, “We have information that the DVAC has received a communication from the governor’s secretary, Hans Raj Verma, stating that the governor wants a preliminary inquiry to be conducted against Radhakrishnan. But since Radhakrishnan holds a very high position, the DVAC will have to wait for the government’s nod. The government is yet to decide.”
But legal experts said it was wrong interpretation of law. A senior jurist said, “The governor is the visitor (chancellor) of the university and visitorial powers include inquiring into the conduct of any authority of the university, including the vice-chancellor.’’
