IDOL IRREGULARITIES: Gauhati University teachers demand immediate action

GUWAHATI: An online GB (General Body) meeting of GUTA (Gauhati University Teachers' Association) held on June 25, 2021 discussed the irregularities pertaining to IDOL (Institute of Distance and Open Learning), and demanded immediate action over the issue.

The 'IDOL' under GU was established in 1998. It was formally known as PGCS (Post Graduate Correspondence School). IDOL offers graduate and post-graduate programmes in various streams.

The widely-attended meeting presided over by the president of GUTA also discussed "the matter of CAG audit report on unapproved courses during the period from 2010 to 2017 and financial irregularities together with the fate of the affected students, the report of the Dr Justice Aftab Hussain Saikia Commission of Inquiry, the follow-up action taken up by the university as indicated in the 'Public Notice' circulated by Gauhati University Registrar dated June 24, 2021 as well as the recent developments wherein no approval has been given by UGC (University Grants Commission) to IDOL for running its courses during current academic year, stated a press release jointly signed by GUTA president Prof. Dilip Kumar Kakati and its general secretary Bikash Gogoi.

The press release added, "After a detail deliberation on those concerns the GB of GUTA unanimously resolved the following:

"1. The GUTA expressed its deep sense of concern and apprehension at the inordinate delay in taking action by the Gauhati University administration against the perpetrators of the GUIDOL scam. It noted that the 'Dr Justice Aftab Hussain Saikia Commission of Enquiry', in its report had put a time frame of six months for the implementation of its recommendation(s) from the date of submission of its report to the University authority on September 28, 2020; but, no disciplinary action has yet been taken even though the period of six months was over on March 28, 2021.

"Under the circumstances, the meeting resolved to demand expeditious disciplinary action under the service rules against the then serving Director of IDOL of 2010-2016 during whose tenure the GUIDOL scam had its origin as has been established in the Saikia Commission of Inquiry.

"2. The GUTA also expressed its unhappiness at the attitude of the GU administration towards those students who stood to lose their degree/diploma as a result of running the unapproved courses during 2010-2017 by GUIDOL.

"It has created a perception among the concerned students as well as the public in general that the University is least bothered about the future of those hapless students. The GUTA GB, therefore, demanded a proactive action from the University at the highest level, for the regularization of those unapproved courses of GUIDOL with retrospective effect for the benefit of aggrieved students. It demanded that the Vice-Chancellor of GU must take up the matter with the UGC, HRD ministry and the State Government at the personal level if necessary, to ensure that the unfortunate students are given justice.

"The GUTA GB noted with great concern that UGC has not given approval to GUIDOL for running its courses during the current academic year by raising several objections. It noted that if the approval to run the courses at the GUIDOL is not restored by the UGC at the earliest, it will be a great loss for the students under the jurisdiction of the Gauhati University and will generate public opinion against the University.

"In order to save the future of GUIDOL, the GUTA GB resolved to suggest a number of steps which include appointment of teachers at as per UGC guideline, doing away with irregular appointments at GUIDOL, updating syllabus and study materials as per UGC regulations, establishing GUIDOL on firm regulatory footing, a thorough discussion at the Academic Council GU on the findings of the GU constituted committee looking into several aspects of GUIDOL and restoration of the regular Director of IDOL."

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