Prof Mittal had resigned from his post in May after the Tripura State Human Rights Commission (TSHRC) received an anonymous complaint alleging inappropriate conduct. Prof Singh said that the University could not initiate proceedings through its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as no one had filed a written complaint.
The VC said that after Mittal resigned on May 4, the University’s Assistant Registrar filled in for about three weeks. During this period, he consulted the State’s higher education department, which recommended appointing the senior-most available faculty member. This led to Prof Dhar’s appointment as in-charge Registrar on May 26. Prof Singh’s note formally seeking the State government’s approval followed on May 29 and the concerned minister signed off on June 3.
Prof Singh said that Prof Dhar, an assistant professor, was chosen because the University had no professor among its faculty and that the State government had said that it could not spare an officer to hold the post either.
“I also understand that assistant professor should not be appointed but we didn’t have any other option. We also asked (the state) government if they could spare an officer. They also said they don’t have sufficient staff. So we have to work within that limitation but we are trying to get a regular registrar soon,” he said.