India, Jan. 2 -- The Union Ministry of Education has directed Assam's Tezpur University Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh to proceed on leave immediately and constituted a three-member enquiry panel to investigate allegations against him, officials said on Thursday.

The decision comes nearly three months after students and faculty began protesting against Singh over alleged irregularities.

The agitation, which began in mid-September, escalated recently when protesters completed 100 days of demonstrations with a 24-hour hunger strike.

A ministry official said, "The VC shall recuse himself from all duties and remain on leave until the enquiry concludes. A three-member panel will probe all matters related to the ongoing situation at Tezp...