HRD Ministry likely to move Supreme Court on Viswa Bharati VC issue

NEW DELHI: The HRD Ministry is likely to challenge in the Supreme Court the Calcutta High Court's order giving another extension of three weeks to Viswa Bharati Vice Chancellor Sushanta Dattagupta to submit his reply on a show cause notice issued by it.

The Ministry has sought a view of the Law Ministry in this regard before challenging the decision in the apex court, ministry officials said.

It has in July sought an explanation from the VC on financial and administrative irregularities found by a three- member panel set up by the ministry.

Dattagupta has been given 21 days to explain his position.

The VC challenged the show cause notice after the court had dismissed his petition challenging the jurisdiction of a fact-finding committee set up by the ministry to look into complaints against him.

Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty while rejecting the petition on July 15 directed Dattagupta to submit his reply to the authorities within three weeks.

Thereafter, another round of extension of three weeks was given to him last week, prompting the ministry to challenge the decision in the SC, officials in the Ministry said.