Whistleblower Bihar V-C quits

Patna-based Maulana Mazharul Haq Arabic and Persian University ‘whistleblower’ vice-chancellor (V-C) Prof Md Qudus, who triggered a storm by levelling serious charges of financial irregularities against his predecessor and Lalit Narayan Mithila Darbhanga University V-C SP Singh earlier this month, resigned on Monday, citing “personal and unavoidable” reason.

Patna-based Maulana Mazharul Haq Arabic and Persian University ‘whistleblower’ vice-chancellor (V-C) Prof Md Qudus, who triggered a storm by levelling serious charges of financial irregularities against his predecessor and Lalit Narayan Mithila Darbhanga University V-C SP Singh earlier this month, resigned on Monday, citing “personal and unavoidable” reason. There was no word from the Raj Bhawan if his resignation had been accepted.

Maulana Mazharul Haq Arabic and Persian University. (HT photo)

Qudus had written directly to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar about the irregularities prior to his joining in the award of tender for answer books and security guards and alleged the role of Singh, who was holding the additional charge of MMHAPU. Singh later served him ₹5.10 crore defamation notice and Qudus said that he had already sent its reply and “the outrage against Singh, wherever he has served, was a testimony to his style of functioning”.

Qudus also had to face rebuke from the MMHAPU syndicate, the highest statutory body, last week when it approved the payment to all the university staff, including those outsourced, like before and termed their appointment as per rules. The inquiry ordered by him also could not start as three of the five members of the inquiry committee refused to be part of it. The V-C had alleged irregularities in the outsourcing of staff also in his letter.

Kudus, who had joined less than four months ago, had earlier said that despite Syndicate’s nod to the earlier appointments, he would refer the matter to the government and the Raj Bhawan for further guidelines. He later wrote about the prevailing conditions in the university to the government and sought clarity on “staff being paid salary through internal resources of the university for nearly six years despite education department’s objections to the way recruitments had been done and roster followed”.

“There are employees working since 2015 and getting paid through internal resources, while the government does not recognise the appointments. I also paid them a couple of times but later tried to find out why the fund for their payment was not coming from the state government when the posts had been duly created. I found out that two of my predecessors kept making payments, without clearance from the education department.

Some persons appointed were also found overage by the department and it sought evidence of how relaxation was given. As I could not keep paying unauthorised appointments through internal resources, which the university wanted me to continue with, I resigned citing personal reasons. The situation warranted that I should go. I sent my resignation through the mail and later also handed over the letter personally at Raj Bhawan,” he added.

Qudus resignation takes the number of vacancies in Bihar’s universities once again to four, as Pataliputra University and Aryabhatt Knowledge University (AKU) are already vacant for nearly a year, while in TM Bhagalpur University the post is vacant following the former V-C’s resignation. Besides, two universities are under additional charge as one V-C is on medical leave following vigilance raid while another has been sent on compulsory leave. Earlier this month, Pataliputra University Pro V-C had also resigned after a brief stint.