| MUMBAI: The appointment of A N Rai, former North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, vice-chancellor, as the NAAC director has raised a cloud of suspicion, questioning the credibility of the selection panel. It isn't just the allegations that Rai carries from his previous jobs, but the hurried manner in which he was picked has forced many to wonder how and why he landed the plump job.
Interviews for the NAAC director's post took place on June 4 and Rai's appointment letter dated June 5 asked him to join immediately. At the same time, complaints of large scale corruption were lodged again Rai who was heading NEHU and Mizoram University earlier.
A joint delegation of teaching and non-teaching associations of NEHU have asked the human resource development to conduct a judicial probe in the functioning of Rai and his new appointment as NAAC director.
The allegations include anomalies in faculty selections which hitherto led to more than 50 litigations, issues of large scale corruption in construction and contract works, diversion of funds without prior sanction.
But his boss, UGC chairman Ved Prakash feels that Rai is the perfect candidate for the new job. "He is a renowned academician and his work — like the infrastructure he has built at the central university — is very impressive."
When contacted, Rai did not wish to speak to this paper. |