Action against Viswa Bharti V-C can be initiated: HRD ministry

The Human Resources Development ministry has informed President Pranab Mukherjee that the Vice-Chancellor of Viswa Bharti, Susanta Duttagupta can be removed from his post.

The ministry had found his involvement in financial irregularity. There were also charges of sexual harassment against him. In October last year Duttagupta had e mailed his resignation to the President.

Under Section 16 of the General Clauses Act, 1987, the President can remove a vice-chancellor of a central university. He was appointed as a Vice chancellor in 2011. The Act empowers the appointing authority to suspend or remove any person appointed in a central university.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan had asked the HRD ministry to take a legal opinion in the matter. After taking the aforementioned legal opinion, the ministry informed the Rashtrapati Bhavan that action against the vice-chancellor can be initiated. The teachers of Viswa Bharti refused to comment on the issue but said that they were keeping a tab on the situation.