JD-U suspends MLA for irregularities in varsity staffing

Patna, Feb 23 (IANS) Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United on Thursday suspended its legislator Mewalal Choudhary for alleged "gross irregularities" in the appointment of staff when he was the Vice Chancellor of the Bihar Agriculture University (BAU) in Bhagalpur district.

JD-U spokesperson Sanjay Singh told media here that the lawmaker Tarapur has been suspended from the party for six years.

"The party has decided to suspend him as charges of irregularities against him in the the appointment of staff in BAU were found to be true," Singh said.

Choudhary said he was not given chance to explain his side of the story.

"I was suspended without a show-cause notice to me. But I respect the decision of the party," he said.

Two days ago, a case was lodged with the police in Bhagalpur against him and others. Choudhary was the Vice Chancellor of the BAU till 2015 before he contested the assembly election from Tarapur in Munger district on a JD-U ticket.

According to police officials, a probe panel formed by the university found that many appointments during his tenure were made by ignoring the candidates' performance in written test and academic records.

Those selected were given high marks by the screening committee in interview and PowerPoint presentation (PPT), sources said, adding that even Ph.D. degree-holders and NET qualified candidates were ignored for the posts of assistant professor and junior scientist.

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