The leadership crisis at Allahabad University intensified on Friday as ambiguity continued over who would occupy the chief proctor's position. This development comes two days after Professor Rakesh Kumar Singh resigned from his post, handing over responsibilities to his deputy, Atul Narayan Singh.
Resignation Standoff and Administrative Response
Despite Professor Singh's firm resignation on Tuesday, Vice-Chancellor has not accepted the resignation as of Friday morning. Demonstrating his determination to step down, Prof Singh took the significant step of returning his official vehicle and security personnel. This action highlighted his strong dissatisfaction with recent administrative and policing developments at the university.
The university administration responded by issuing an order through Registrar Ashish Khare on Thursday. The order officially assigned the charge of chief proctor to deputy proctor Atul Narayan Singh from the Ancient History Department. During the transition, Prof Singh clarified that until his resignation receives formal acceptance, Singh could approach him in the Hindi department for any office-related matters.
Roots of the Controversy
The controversy erupted earlier this week amid ongoing student protests on campus. On Tuesday, a crucial meeting brought together district authorities, police officials, and university administration to address the tense situation. While the discussion resulted in the decision to revoke the suspension of all four students involved in recent agitation, it also witnessed significant friction between police officers and the chief proctor.
Sources indicate that the strained atmosphere during this meeting contributed directly to Prof Singh's decision to resign shortly afterward. In his resignation letter, the professor specifically objected to remarks allegedly made by the police commissioner and expressed profound disappointment with what he described as a lack of support from university officials present at the meeting.
Professor's Strong Stance and Future Implications
Professor Singh's resignation letter revealed deep personal and professional grievances. He wrote that he had expected the administration to respond in his defense during the contentious meeting but felt completely let down when this didn't happen. Stating that he could 'no longer maintain his self-respect' under such circumstances, he described resigning as 'essential as a life-saving medicine.'
With student unrest still fresh and the administration navigating internal disagreements, the situation at Allahabad University remains tense. The university leadership continues to deliberate on the matter, and further developments are anticipated as the standoff between Professor Singh's principles and administrative protocols continues to unfold.
