Former IGNOU VC terms CBI allegations against him baseless

Former IGNOU Vice-Chancellor VN Rajasekharan Pillai has termed CBI allegations against him of favouring two universities as "absolutely baseless" and said the approvals given to these institutions were in accordance with the prevailing norms and procedures.

In an email message, he said the two Universities -- Sikkim Manipal University and Punjab Technical University -- were given sanction to run distance learning courses by the Distance Education Council (DEC) which has the legal authority to approve courses for recognised universities.

"DEC has held several meetings after the approval and it has not raised any objection till date," he said.

The former Vice Chancellor, facing CBI probe, said the approval was given to the universities to run the courses in accordance with the prevailing norms and procedures.

He said the controversy regarding the approval by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for distance education courses of Punjab Technical University and Sikkim Manipal University is unfortunate, misplaced and absolutely baseless.

"The allegations have been levelled by conveniently hiding the truth and glossing over the fundamental fact that both the universities are controlled by their respective state governments and are not in the private sector, as is being reported repeatedly," he said.

He said these Universities are recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and other statutory bodies in the government.

"All formalities required in this regard were done and the approval was given in line with the recommendations made by the inspection panels concerned. It was not the case of favouring those universities as due procedures and formalities were observed," he said.

Gopinath Pradhan, professor of economics, took over as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on August 1.