New Delhi, Apr 8 The Delhi High Court sought the Centre's stand on Wednesday on a petition alleging financial, administrative and academic irregularities at the Indian Institute of Heritage.
A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notices to the Centre, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the institute based in Uttar Pradesh's Noida on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) matter filed by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, and asked the respondents to file their replies.
Terming the issue "serious", the court also issued a notice to the institute's former vice-chancellor, Dr Manvi Seth.
The petition seeks the constitution of a high-level independent inquiry committee, headed by a retired high court judge or any other eminent person, to investigate the financial, administrative and academic irregularities at the Indian Institute of Heritage.
The petition has alleged unauthorised appointments, expenditure without a sanction from the finance committee and diversion of public funds at the institute.
It has also sought directions to the Union Ministry of Culture to forthwith initiate and complete the process of appointing a regular, full-time VC for the institute.
The matter would be heard next in July.
