PASIGHAT, Jul 22: The East Siang district administration on Saturday constituted a fact-finding committee to conduct detailed inquiry into the functioning of the Apex Professional University (APU) here, based on allegations levelled by the Adi Students’ Union (AdiSU) against the APU, and in terms of government notification No LAW/LEGN -17/2012, dated 10 May, 2013, the APU Act, 2012.
The 11-member committee has been instructed to submit its report within seven days, starting 23 July.
The fact-finding committee includes ADC (HQ) Tatdo Borang as chairman, and 10 other members including officials of the education department, the district administration and the police, members of civil society organisations, and principals from schools and colleges.
The committee has been entrusted to “unearth the details of the APU and its status, its owner, shareholders, compliance of UGC norms, notification issued by the government of Arunachal Pradesh for establishment of APU, parking of endowment funds, fee structures, HR management, faculty position, infrastructure development, library facilities, functioning under lease rent building of the (UD & Housing), GoAP, frequent change of university authorities, etc, in their inquiry,” the administration said.
“The committee will also suggest actions required to be taken up by the government and the district administration for resolving the issues on the lines of the discussion held in the coordination meeting held on 21 July at the Siang guest house without delay,” it added.
Meanwhile, the AdiSU has submitted a complaint to the East Siang superintendent of police regarding the alleged violation of UGC and state act norms and guidelines by the APU.
“All academic activities in the Apex Professional University, Pasighat will remain suspended during such time,” read a press communiqué from the AdiSU.
It had also written to the vice-chancellor/registrar of the APU and sought immediate closure of the university.
On 18 July, the AdiSU held an emergency meeting to review the situation on campus reportedly caused by the inability of the university to come clean on demands and apprehensions.
It noted that the APU failed to obtain proper land documents from the administration, and as a result, the university has no permanent infrastructure. “The university has failed to come up with a proper campus development plan even after five years of its inception,” it said.
It claimed that the APU also does not meet up with and violates various rules and guidelines laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
“The APU has not come to an understanding on the issue of endowment fund, which is a mandatory investment fund, and failed to reach an agreement with the state government of Arunachal Pradesh,” it said, adding that the lack of permanent faculty members, and recurring changes of the vice-chancellor and faculty members are serious threats to the quality of education the institute imparts.
“The chancellor-cum-owner of the Apex Professional University, Pasighat, is one of the prime accused in CMJ University scam, which raises more questions on the authenticity of the university in issue,” the AdiSU said.
Saying that the APU has “undermined and compromised” the trust and confidence placed on them by the students and the people of Arunachal Pradesh, the AdiSU has sought suspension of all academic activities on campus, and said the decision to begin normal academic activities should be based on whether or not the grievances have been addressed.
