HC directs UP govt to assist vacating LU hostels by Sunday

Lucknow, Dec 15 (UNI) In a major relief to Lucknow University vice-chancellor R P Singh, Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court today directed the Uttar Pradesh government to assist the university authorities to vacate all hostels by December 17 and submit the Action Taken Report (ATR) on December 19.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Pradeep Kant and Justice A K Singh pronounced the direction. The court also maintained that service of Rapid Action Force (RAF) could be taken for vacating the hostels. The court has fixed December 19 as the next date of hearing in the case.

Earlier, the court had summoned state Home secretary, DGP and district police officials to get their views about the security arrangements given to the university authorities to get the hostels vacated.

The court had taken up the Public Interest litigation (PIL) yesterday which had demanded availability of central para military forces to vacate the university hostels of stdents having criminal background.

The petition, filed by local advocate Jayant Singh Tomar, also urged the university to start regular classes after winter vacation from January 2 and hold the Student Union polls under the Lygndoh Committee recommendations.

Earlier in the day, the UP government had instituted an inquiry against VC R P Singh on a ''pending complaint'' of financial and administrative irreuglarities against him.

UP minister of state for Higher Education Ramasrey Vishwakarma said the inquiry has been ordered and a secretary level official of the higher education department has been entrusted with the task.

The minister said preliminary inquiry has already started and after its report, government will consider to go for a full probe into the matter. Under section 8 of UP State Universities' Act, 1973, the state government can order inquiry on financial and administrative irregularities against the VC. However, the government can take action against the VC if permitted by Governor, who is also the Chancellor of state universities.

Mr Vishwakarma said there were several financial and administrative complaints pending against the VC and the probe would take care of all these irregularities.

Mr Singh had ordered sine-die closure of the university on December 8 following vandalism by students demanding relaxation of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations for holding students union polls which were due on December 16. After the closure of the university, the union elections too have been put on a hold by university authorities.

UNI XC/MB NAB YA HS1827