RPNLU Prayagraj finance controller removed after refusing VC’s ₹70,000 academic incentive

The finance controller (FC) of Dr Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj (RPNLUP) was removed after he refused to approve a ₹70,000 academic incentive for the Vice-Chancellor (VC) Usha Tandon, a Dainik Bhaskar report has claimed.

The report from September 8 claims that the University has replaced 9 FCs in the past two years. It further claims that the latest removal, that of Siddharth S Tripathi, followed his refusal to approve a ₹70,000 academic incentive to the VC. Tripathi reportedly claimed that the VC could not be entitled to this incentive.

When contacted, Tripathi refused to comment on the matter.

In a telephonic conversation with Bar & Bench, the University's public relations officer (PRO) Prakash Tripathi said that the power to remove or appoint the FC rests with the State government and not the VC. A perusal of the University Act, however, reveals that the Executive Council appoints the FC in consultation with the State government. The Executive Council comprises the VC, two faculty members nominated by the VC, and various other government representatives.

When asked whether the VC was drawing such an incentive and the basis for the same, the PRO last week requested for a query on email. A response to the same is awaited.

The University has also been facing allegations of irregularities in its recent recruitment of 12 assistant professors. In a press note issued on August 20, it has denied the irregularities and mentioned having filed a police complaint against "defamatory" press coverage. Subsequently, the Uttar Pradesh government ordered a probe into the recruitment.

More recently, on September 21, Justice Vinod Diwakar of the Allahabad High Court ordered a judicial probe into the allegations of caste-based harassment and discrimination by a faculty member at the University.

However, a Division Bench of Justices Siddhartha Varma and Kunal Ravi Singh questioned the order and said that there was no occasion to order a judicial inquiry when an Equal Opportunity Cell is already in place at the University.

An appeal against the order was placed before a bench headed by Chief Justice Arun Bhansali, who has recused himself from the matter. It is yet to be heard further.