Admn plans to ‘take disciplinary action’ against VIT; accused warden still missing

Bhopal: The Sehore campus of VIT Bhopal struggled to rise from the vandalism and arson, on Saturday, while there was still no word for the third straight day on the whereabouts of warden and assistant professor Prashant Pandey, who went missing in the wake of the registration of multiple FIRs against him for alleged abuse and assault on protesting students, as well as other charges.The state Higher Education department took cognizance of the situation on campus, with top govt sources telling TOI that it was preparing to take strict action against the university after numerous complaints of contaminated water, poor-quality food and inadequate health facilities on campus came to the forefront. Meanwhile, the three-member committee, which was constituted by the department in the wake of the mayhem on campus, completed its probe into the disturbing events and submitted its report to the govt. Sources familiar with the findings said the committee noted serious lapses in campus administration, poor crisis management and violations of institutional procedures in its report. "Based on these findings, department officials are now drafting a set of corrective measures, which may involve disciplinary proceedings against key university officials, a reorganisation of administrative responsibilities, stricter oversight mechanisms and even monetary penalties," a senior official in the higher education department told TOI, requesting anonymity.The department is likely to issue formal directions to the VIT management once the final review of the report is completed. The escalating situation created unease among students and faculty, many of whom demanded transparency and accountability from the administration. Student groups also appealed for a swift resolution to restore normalcy and ensure campus security.Police said warden Pandey went untraceable soon after complaints of vandalism and misconduct were registered earlier this week. Several students and staff had accused him of mishandling disciplinary issues on campus, which allegedly led to unrest and damage to university property. FIRs were subsequently lodged citing negligence, abuse of authority and failure to maintain order.The campus furore, which saw several vehicles being overturned and set on fire and Chancellor's campus residence stormed, drew the attention of academic circles in the state, raising larger concerns about administrative accountability and governance in higher education.

Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here