The significance of Universities in the nation’s development can hardly be overemphasized. “If all is well with the Universities, all is well with the nation” opined Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister and the architect of modern India.  Universities, by producing quality manpower, impart the economic vitality, scientific and technological prowess, global competitiveness and social cohesiveness to the nation.  But the positive impact of the Universities on the nation hinges to a large extent on the qualities and dexterities of the leader of the University, that is, the Vice Chancellor.

Currently, Pondicherry University (a 30 year old Central University) is headed by Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy, whose appointment violated the Act and Statutes of the University. A copy of her Curriculum Vitae, which was obtained from the MHRD through RTI, is placed on the website of Pondicherry University Teachers’ Association (puta.org.in, please follow the thread ‘know your Vice Chancellor’ or follow the Link- http://www.puta.org.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=20 ). Even if the credentials / achievements claimed in the CV are taken for ‘true’ at their face value, she is nowhere near the other two shortlisted candidates. Most of the assistant professors of Pondicherry University have better credentials than her.  A 2002 PhD is the fourth time Vice Chancellor. This fact alone explains how Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy rigged her way to the high office of the University.

Fake CV of Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy illustrated: (please visit puta.org.in for evidences)

• Of the three books she had claimed to have published in her CV, two books were never published. The third book “Legal Education in India” which was published was found to be plagiarized to an extent of 98% (2% mismatches because of error induced while copying).
• In her CV, Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy has listed 25 papers, which she claims to have published in reputed journals such the Journal of the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, Journal of the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and Indian Bar Review, published by Bar Council of India. Documents obtained under the RTI act clearly establish the fact that no paper authored by her was ever published in any of these reputed journals. The only paper, which we were able to trace, turned out to be plagiarized to the extent of 72%.
• Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy claimed in her CV that she guided 9 Ph.D. candidates. In reality, only 2 candidates were guided, and completed their Ph.D.
• Similarly, she listed 4 Major Research Projects (MRPs) and stated that she successfully completed all of them. The RTI replies from all the Institutions from which she drew her salary have clearly denied her involvement or participation in any capacity in any of the projects that she listed.
• In her academic record that she presented in her fake CV, Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy claimed to have secured First Class First in her LLB and LLM. Her service book, which we obtained through RTI, shows that she obtained a mere pass grade in her B.Sc. degree and second class in LL B and LL M degrees.
• In Chandra Krishnamurthy we have an instance of a Vice Chancellor of a Central University flaunting a D Litt degree from Open International University for Complementary Medicine, Sri Lanka. The New Indian Express on 13th August 2014 (http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Sri-Lankan-Doctorates-For-Sale-in-Blore/2014/08/13/article2376851.ece) and NDTV in November 2010 (http://www.ndtv.com/cities/mumbai-the-real-students-of-a-fake-college-439197) had exposed the fact that this University from Sri Lanka is a fake University and the racket in India is managed by Zoroastrian College Mumbai, whose head Ms. Meher Master-Moos was nominated to the Academic Council of our University (a typical quid pro quo case). 

All the above said fraud along with the evidences were compiled and submitted to the MHRD minister, PM and the President several months ago. But so far no action was taken. Please take a look at the evidences here. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByO90eaU_wsfSVRUVmUwQXh4X2M&authuser=0. The Indian Express also reported about this invincible Vice Chancellor (http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/in-fact-the-curious-case-of-pondicherry-univ-and-its-invincible-vc/)

What we can expect of such appointees is only further misconduct

• After her appointment as VC, Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy unleashed a reign of terror, intimidation and violence against the Faculty, Staff and the Students.
• Her first target was the then regularly appointed Registrar. She held an illegal meeting of the local members of the Executive Council without the knowledge of the then Registrar and an illegal order of repatriation was served on him, who came in the way of the illegal activities of Chandra Krishnamurthy.
• She appointed handpicked persons on in-charge basis to statutory and important administrative positions that include Registrar, Director, Finance officer, Dean College development Council etc.  Without following seniority and violating all norms in statues, VC used emergency powers indiscriminately. Registrar i/c happens to be 16th in Seniority, Director (i/c) is 11th in Seniority amongst the Professors. The Registrar i/c alone is holding four posts.
• She preferred to appoint her own servile agents to governing bodies of the University like the Court, Academic Council and the Planning Board.
• One favourite of hers, Prof. Hariharan, found a place in more than 35 University Committees and could act as the extra constitutional authority under the patronage of Mrs.  Chandra Krishnamurthy.
• Knowing that a CBI case is pending against Prof.  Hariharan on a matter relating to affiliation granted, Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy, gave him positions related to affiliation, college inspection. Violating all norms he was nominated to the Planning Board and was given the Dean, College Development Council post.
• Pondicherry University is an affiliating University with several private Medical and Engineering colleges under its jurisdiction, which undergoes inspection and re-affiliation annually. It does not require any great flight of imagination to realize how Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy capitalizes her position as V.C. to the maximum.
• Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy was bent on violating every rule in the statutes. She did not follow the rule of seniority even in appointment of Deans to the various schools and Head of Departments.
• As if this was not enough to satisfy her whimsical mindset, she started indulging in vindictive and terrorizing acts. She did not even spare the student community
• To intimidate the Faculty, she started indulging in vindictive transfers, issue of memos, show cause notices and used her henchmen in fact finding committees targeting faculty members who oppose her misconduct.
• A student was picked by the security staff of the University headed by Prof. Hariharan. The boy was kept under illegal detention for 27 hours, tortured by Prof. Hariharan and the faculty in charge of security with the knowledge and concurrence of the Vice Chancellor.  The boy in his statement to the Police and the National Human Rights Commission has stated that he was confined in a room without food and water and his clothes were removed. We ask Chandra Krishnamurthy whether such inhuman treatment is her way of protecting students under her watch? On the 9th June 2015, Indian Express reported the incident along with video footage. The article can be read here (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/univ-teachers-turn-judge-jury-in-campus-trial-27-hr-detention/)
• Two girl students, who complained of sexual harassment, were punished by Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy and the two were forced to approach the High Court in order to complete their education. Further, the Madras High Court passed severe strictures on the University Administration headed by Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy and the University was asked to pay Rs 40,000 as fine. This incident itself shows that Mrs. Chandra Krishnamurthy is incapable of running the University efficiently and smoothly.
• Theses of PhD students have been held all for silly reasons without sending for evaluation for the past several months.

 

 Focus on personal luxury but not on the growth of the University

No fund for research and teaching, whereas enough for renovation of house and luxury cars

• The Government of India has issued strict instructions that public expenditure was to be reduced in order to affect economy in the functioning of institutions. Mrs Chandra Krishnamurthy spent about Rs. 50 lakhs on the renovation of her residence (more than 11 lakhs on toilets alone) and purchased 2 cars. She uses in total three cars.
• Given the abandon with which University funds are wasted in her travel, telephone bills and legal expenditure for several cases that stem from her arbitrary and whimsical administration, it is obvious that there is little for development of the University.
• In fact, all development activities in the University have stopped and the existing facilities have eroded and deteriorated under her watch.
• For the past 2 years the Library has not received a single rupee whereas the pseudo School of law opened to satisfy her whims was given 1.75 crores, and the total enrolment in the said school is around 10. This is another instance of her wrong and arbitrary way of running the University.
• Five buildings, which were completed during 2012-13 by spending 50 crores, remain unopened.
• No new infrastructure has been added or created for the past two years. Faculty and students are suffering due to the lack of proper infrastructure and development.
• Her only ”innovation”  the “Online Entrance Examination”, started without consulting the HOD’s, Deans and Academic Council is actually a web based exam, which is proving a total disaster and has put the weaker sections of the society at a disadvantage and has been handed over to a private party without following procedures.

 

The Visitor (the President of India), who is empowered to take disciplinary action, should intervene and set things right in Pondicherry University by dismissing her. Only this step can save Pondicherry University, South India’s second largest and oldest Central University which provides higher education to students mostly from weaker section of the Society.