Manipur University: Restoring Normalcy

By Jarnail Singh

This book covers all areas and issues that are important for the management of universities. It gives the history of the establishment of Manipur University, its conversion to a Central university, various difficulties faced, and the indefinite strike launched by the students, teachers and staff members from 31 May 2018. It narrates the efforts made by the Central and the state governments to resolve the impasse, restore normalcy and start the academic session. As normalcy could not be restored, the Hon’ble High Court of Manipur, after hearing Public Interest Litigations, appointed the author, Jarnail Singh, as Administrator of the university to restore normalcy and fully empowered him to discharge the functions of the Vice-Chancellor as provided under the Manipur University Act, 2005 and relevant statutes.

In the book, the author has analysed all issues, matters, actions and non-actions which had affected the functioning of the university and required immediate attention. The author mentions the initiatives taken by him to restore normalcy as well as the difficulties he faced from different quarters in respect of general administration, academics, promotions and recruitment of faculty/ non-faculty members, holding of Executive Council meetings, financial management, account keeping and in construction of buildings. As most of the issues mentioned in the book are relevant to all universities, this will be useful to all those who are involved in the management of universities. The author recommends that if the VC, Registrar, Finance Officer and the University Engineer are well conversant with all the rules and regulations, and follow these strictly, the university KONARK PUBLISHERS PVT LTD administration can be run efficiently.

JARNAIL SINGH joined IAS in 1974 and was allotted the erstwhile Manipur-Tripura cadre. He is a BSc Engineering (Hons) and MSc Engineering (Distinction) in Electrical Engineering from Panjab University, and Master in Public Administration in Public Policy and Management from John F Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University, USA. Important positions held by him include: Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister (1996–2004), Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur (2004–2008), and Secretary to GOI. He also served as Advisor to the Chief Minister of Manipur on ‘Infrastructure and Power’ (2012–2017). In pursuance of the orders of the Hon’ble High Court of Manipur, he worked as Administrator of Manipur University from October 2018 to November 2020.

He is recipient of the ‘Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for the Year 2007-08’, and has written two books My Tryst With Manipur and With Four Prime Ministers: My PMO Journey (both published by Konark Publishers).

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