Guv issues notice to V-C for falsifying bio-data

Kerala Governor Nikhil Kumar has issued a show-cause notice to Mahatma Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor A V George in connection with alleged irregularities in his appointment to the post.

The move from the governor – who is also chancellor of the university – is a follow-up action on reports submitted by Chief Secretary E K Bharat Bhushan and Additional Chief Secretary (higher education) K M Abraham on the allegations that George had provided false information in his bio-data while presenting himself for selection as a candidate for the vice-chancellor’s post.

George has to respond to the notice in a week.

According to reports George, ahead of his appointment, had mentioned in his bio-data that he headed the department of environmental sciences at the Central University in Kasaragod though he was only briefly in charge of the department, on deputation.

George has already had his share of controversies during his stint as V-C. The governor had, during August this year, issued two notices to George over his sanctioning of new posts and off-campus centres. The rift between George and some of the university’s syndicate members has been hitting headlines.

George is also fighting legal battles against administrative reports that allege irregularities in his appointment to the post.

George, a nominee of the Kerala Congress (M) – a Congress ally in the United Democratic Front (UDF) – has maintained that a faction of the Congress party, along with officials in the higher education department, had been “victimising” him with fabricated charges since the time of his appointment.

The V-C has also been claiming that the allegations were part of a plan to ensure political intervention in the affairs of the university.