Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University

Bhagalpur, June 16: Hardly anybody holding the post of vice-chancellor of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU) could skirt controversy. The present incumbent, K.N. Dubey, is no exception. He is under the scanner for his alleged autocratic way of functioning.

Raj Bhavan has assigned the job of conducting a probe into Dubey’s way of functioning to retired IAS officer B.B. Lal. Arriving here on Tuesday, he has started the investigations.

Dubey drew flak several times earlier because of his style of functioning after taking charge in August 2010. He allegedly took undue favours for passing in-house bills and violated norms while selecting candidates for the BEd course at SM College. He has also been accused of misbehaving with subordinates. Several officials and teachers of the university alleged that his son had extracted money from them by blackmailing.

Dubey, however, denied any wrongdoing. “If a committee has been set up, let it work. The truth will come out automatically,” he said.

This is not the first time a vice-chancellor of TMBU has been entangled in charges of corruption. In its 10-year history, the university has been continuously under the scanner of either the state government or the Raj Bhavan. The tenure of former VC of TMBU, Ramashray Yadav (2001-04), was full of controversies. Rama Jois, then chancellor-cum-chief justice of Patna High Court, constituted an inquiry against Ramashray for the violation of the statutory acts of the varsity.

The role of Premchand Patanjali, the vice-chancellor of TMBU between August 2004 and May 2005, came under the scanner over financial irregularities. The matter, however, was suppressed. The tenure of Prema Jha as a vice-chancellor in TMBU between 2005 and 2009 was full of controversies. Former secretary of the state higher education K.K. Pathak had even ordered to stop the payment of salary to Jha.

A varsity officer said many cases of corruption were reported against the former vice-chancellors. No action was taken against any of them.