Madhya Pradesh government sacks Indore university VC after exam fiasco

INDORE: The Madhya Pradesh government imposed emergency measures at Indore’s DAVV University under Section 52 of MP Universities Act 1973 on Monday, removing vice-chancellor N K Dhakad — a day after 1,300 CET candidates couldn’t take the CET exam due to technical glitches.
Protests erupted on campus as soon as the gates opened on Monday. Students burst crackers and offered nooses to the VC to symbolize the “hanging of education”.Dhakad, who lost his post a year before his four-year term ended, had to be escorted out of the university through a backdoor as student leaders protested in front of the main administrative building.
After he was sacked, students distributed sweets and sprinkled Gangajal to “purify his cabin”. Around 1,300 of the 17,000 candidates that had applied for CET in Indore, were unable to give the computer-based online test at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) due to technical glitches on Sunday.
The test for undergraduate courses began over 90 minutes late and the examination for postgraduate courses was cancelled, sparking angry scenes on campus with parents facing off with teachers. The protests spilled over to Monday.
Higher education minister Jitu Patwari, who had ordered an inquiry on Sunday, told TOI that chief minister Kamal Nath was informed about the CET fiasco. “Even prior to the CET issue, the CM had got several complaints against Dhakad that led to invoking of Section 52 of MP Universities Act 1973 today,” the minister said.
Decisions made were for welfare of students: VC
This law allows the government to invoke emergency provisions in a university in a crisis. “The state government is convinced that a situation has arisen in which the administration of the university cannot be carried out in accordance with MP Vishwavidyalaya Adhiniyam 1973, without harming the interests of the university,” additional chief secretary for higher education Salina Singh said in the order. The government has begun scouting for Dhakad’s replacement. These 1,300 candidates will appear in CET again next week.
The CET exam fiasco was the tipping point for Dhakad, who often found himself with his back to the wall during his tenure as VC. On Sunday, he maintained that his decisions were “always intended for the welfare of students”.
“The CET was successful. Over 90% students were able to give the online test. It’s not easy to conduct the exam on such a large scale,” Dhakad said after being removed on Monday.
“I have done my work and I’ll give answers if asked, but I will not question their decision. If this is the decision of the government, I accept it,” he added.