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New Delhi: Dr. Gopa Sabharwal might finally be a relieved person, at least in her own opinion. An ‘appointment letter’ dated March 19, 2012 signed by Sanjay Singh, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs put an end to her contentious status as Vice-Chancellor Designate, Nalanda University with retrospective effect. Dr. Sabharwal, however, had already been making senior rank appointments in Nalanda University by styling herself as the Vice Chancellor. |
The Bihar Times is in possession of three office orders in which Dr. Gopa Sabharwal had signed her designation as ‘Vice Chancellor’ months before she received the March, 2012 confirmation letter. Two of these are actually appointment letters, with copies marked to the Registrar, Delhi University. The first was dated January 20, 2011 whereby she appointed her friend and book-collaborator Dr. Anjana Sharma, Associate Professor of English, Delhi University as OSD (University Development) in Nalanda University on deputation for three years. The post is an irregular one apparently created without any sanction from Ministry of Finance merely to benefit her friend. Dr. Sabharwal marks her position as Vice Chancellor. She does the same while appointing Dr. Padmakar Mishra, Deputy Registrar, Delhi University as OSD (Finance) in Nalanda University on one-year deputation on August 12, 2011.
While Dr. Sabharwal was corresponding with Delhi University as Vice-Chancellor, Nalanda University the MoS, External Affairs E. Ahmed flatly denied in Rajya Sabha on August 25, 2011 that any Vice Chancellor had been appointed in Nalanda University. Dr. Sabharwal was appointing her cronies to the post without giving any public notification mandatory of government jobs.
The Secretary (East) in his letter dtd March 19, 2012 states that the President of India in her capacity as the Visitor of the University has confirmed Dr. Sabharwal’s appointment as the Vice Chancellor for a period of five years from her date of ‘appointment’. Since under the Statutes (bye-laws) of the University the Vice Chancellor shall hold office for five years from ‘date on which he/she enters office’ Dr. Sabharwal’s appointment is confirmed from October 8, 2010 when she assumed the office as Vice Chancellor Designate.
Surprisingly Sanjay Singh, a senior IFS officer (1976 batch), has shown lack of knowledge of government procedures expected from a lower division clerk. He is apparently unaware that an ‘appointment letter’ in government is not a single-copy DO letter but an ‘Office Order’ with copies marked to multiple authorities. Interestingly, her predecessor to the post Latha Reddy, now Deputy National Security Advisor, had similarly appointed Dr. Gopa Sabharwal as 'Vice Chancellor Designate' through a DO letter dtd September 9, 2010 instead of Office Order. Interestingly, Dr. Sabharwal’s appointment is ‘confirmed’ retrospectively from October 8, 2010 or even before the Nalanda University Act, 2010 was enforced by the Ministry w.e.f November 25, 2010. Thus Dr. Sabharwal’s appointment is ‘confirmed’ from a date when the University had not even been born.
Sanjay Singh’s letter dated March 19, 2012 also states that President had given assent to the Statutes (bye laws) of the Nalanda University. But the Gazette notification of the Statutes ten days later makes no mention of the fact. A copy of the same is available on the website of the University. It is strange that a gazette notification shies away from mentioning Presidential approval, provided there was actually one.
Dr. Sabharwal appears to have anointed herself as the Vice Chancellor before the President of India could have a chance. With such go-getters at the helm, the Nalanda University has an assured future!
Copies of Nalanda University Appointment letters ...
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