GAYA: The University Grants Commission ( UGC ) has issued fresh guidelines regarding the process to be adopted in dealing with complaints of corruption and irregularities against vice-chancellors of universities.Sources said the guidelines have been issued to protect the high-office holders against frivolous complaints and resultant embarrassment and erosion of authority. The guidelines were issued earlier this month by C P Gaur, under-secretary (vigilance), UGC.As per the guidelines issued by the UGC on the basis of communication received from ministry of human resource development, only in rare cases should an inquiry officer visit the university or institute to conduct inquiry against its head.As per the Union HRD ministry’s letter, which formed the basis of the UGC guidelines, before proceeding further in respect of complaints received against the VC or director, the higher education department of the state or central government (in case of central universities) should first ascertain the genuineness of the complainant.The genuineness has to be ascertained as per the CVC ( Central Vigilance Commission ) parameters, it said. In case the higher education department officials are convinced that the complaint merits inquiry, the relevant records and not the VC or director should be summoned. In only unavoidable cases, the inquiry officer or other authorised person should visit the institute, that too when it is ascertained that the allegations are not false or frivolous,” said the guideline.The guideline also says that VCs or directors should avoid recruiting their spouses and close relatives in the institutions headed by them and if, due to some reason, their close relatives do apply for any post, the VCs or directors should declare it well in advance and recuse themselves from the whole selection process.In order to ensure fair recruitment in which spouses or close relatives of the VC or director of institute is a job aspirant, two additional experts from outside the institute will be deputed by the ministry of HRD, says the guideline.Shiv Jatan Thakur, former member of the Bihar Public Service Commission and an expert on university laws, said the guideline was a reiteration of the state government circular requiring the complainant to submit the complaint on oath to the effect that he/she possesses sufficient evidence to prove the charges in the case of a formal inquiry.

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