IMPHAL: The President has suspended the vice-chancellor of the Centre-run Manipur University , Adya Prashad Pandey, providing a fresh twist to the ongoing impasse surrounding allegations of administrative and financial irregularities against him. An order suspending the controversial VC was issued by the deputy secretary of the ministry of human resources development Surat Singh on Monday.The agitating MU Teachers' Association (Muta) has welcomed the order, saying this will facilitate a fair trial in the ongoing independent probe against Pandey. Following a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between the MU community, the Centre and the state government, the independent inquiry began in Imphal about a fortnight ago. The probe panel is headed by retired acting chief justice of Meghalaya high court T Nandakumar Singh as chairman and MK Choudhury, retired VC of Tezpur University as member."We are so happy with the news and we hope the suspension will give new strength to the probe panel to continue its proceedings in a free and fair manner," a key Muta leader told TOI on Tuesday.Monday's order said the varsity is in a state of turmoil owing to the long-drawn agitation against Pandey by MU students and teachers. While the agitation temporarily ended on August 22 after 85 days with Pandey going on leave, his recent resumption of duties has further deteriorated the atmosphere of the varsity, the order said.The order added that the suspension will be in effect "till the completion of the inquiry and action to be taken thereon in the interest of justice and a free and fair inquiry till further order."Peeved with the setting up of the probe panel, Pandey had challenged the MoA in the Manipur high court.Recently, chief minister N Biren Singh said the MoA is binding on all parties and there should not be any confusion on it. Governor Najma Heptulla had told the agitating MU Students' Union (Musu) that she would extend her efforts to resolve the crisis by intimating the President of latest developments.

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