New Delhi: The Modi government has extended the tenure of a central university vice-chancellor who has been accused of sexual harassment and of forging documents, ThePrint has learnt.
The term of Sanjeev Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU) in Motihari, Bihar, was supposed to end on 2 February but the Ministry of Education has extended it until a new V-C is appointed. ThePrint has accessed the letter by the ministry extending his tenure.
The extension, it is learnt, comes after a difference of opinion between the education minister, who agreed to it, and the education secretary, who didn’t.
The allegations against Sharma include complaints of sexual harassment and charges that he fudged documents to gain a promotion during his time at the Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU) in Meerut.
The matter had been escalated to the office of President Ram Nath Kovind in May 2020, who had forwarded it to the ministry.
Turmoil within govt over extension
Documents obtained under the Right to Information Act show that while considering the proposal for Sharma’s extension, Secretary (Higher Education) Amit Khare had signed on Sharma relinquishing the office, while Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ backed the vice-chancellor’s term being extended.
Documents also show that the ministry was still probing allegations against the V-C until January, when the extension was approved.
Filed by RTI activist Nikhil Kumar in February, the RTI shows that Khare chose the option that “Prof. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma may be advised to relinquish the O/o Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Central University on completion of the tenure on 2.2.2021 and hand over the charge of Vice Chancellor as per provisions of Central Universities Act, 2009.”
The secretary signed on the note sheet on 28 January. On the same day, however, Pokhriyal signed on the option that “the present Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Prof. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, may continue in office notwithstanding the expiry of the tenure till his successor is appointed.”
The document also shows that the minister had initially chosen option B, which is that the matter should be taken up with the President, but eventually settled for A, granting permission for tenure extension.
Following the minister’s approval, a letter was sent to Motihari University informing them of Sharma’s tenure extension.
A detailed email sent to the education ministry seeking a reply from the minister’s office remained unanswered until the time of publishing the copy.
ThePrint also reached Khare through text messages but did not receive a response from him. Sharma, meanwhile, refused to comment on the issue when reached over telephone.
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Charges against Sharma
The complaints against Sharma include that he was unduly promoted as a professor in CCSU, Meerut, his parent university, without him having completed the mandated eight years as a reader. He also had a case of sexual harassment against him at the university. Despite this, he was given a vigilance clearance and appointed as the V-C at MGCU.
Apart from the alleged irregularities in his appointment, there have also been complaints against Sharma after he took charge. Documents reveal that the Chancellor of the University, Mahesh Sharma, had written letters to President Ram Nath Kovind informing him about the ongoing issue with the V-C. He had sought the President’s intervention as the Visitor of central universities in the matter.
One such letter said Sharma has “serious concerns about the conduct of the V-C”, which according to him, has been totally against the ethical norms expected from a Central University named after Gandhiji and based in Champaran.
“He is habituated to lies, liquor and more,” the Chancellor’s letter, which has been accessed by ThePrint, reads.
The President’s office had then sent a letter to the ministry calling for appropriate attention.
The letter, a copy of which has been accessed by ThePrint was sent by K.D. Tripathi, secretary to the President, to Khare on 20 May, 2020.
“Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari-Champaran, Bihar has sent a letter dated 11.05.2020 addressed to the President of India describing the present state of affairs in the University and seeking an urgent intervention of the President in the matter, in his capacity as the Visitor of the University,” the letter reads. “A copy of the said letter is being forwarded for appropriate attention.”
‘Due procedure followed’
Responding to the report more than two days after it was published, the education ministry spokesperson said in a mail Saturday night, “I can assure you that all due procedures were followed in the matter, taking into view the recommendations of all concerned stakeholders.”
She added, “Regarding alleged complaints against the V-C, they are yet to be established against him and are still under examination.”
This report has been updated to include the Ministry of Education’s comment.
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Kritika, it seems that you r a fraud journalist, Neither you know ugc rules nor extension process of the chair of vice Chancellor . Just, I would like to correct that prof sharma promotion was as per ugc regulation 2003 and 2006 not 2009. So once read these regulations first and then start you tingo journalism. Second about harassment allegation which is never been proved. Anybody can alledge a person but is doesn’t mean that the person is guilty. So don’t do this paid journalism.
You journalist often after some nonsense….cover news of our universities….the actual corruption is happening out there…. Being a responsible journalist you job is to make people understand why selection of good teachers is necessary for country…..